Sankey charts are a powerful visualization tool that can help you understand complex relationships and flows. They are named after Captain Matthew Henry Phineas Riall Sankey, a British engineer who introduced them in the late 19th century to show the energy and power flows in an iron foundry. Since then, Sankey charts have found numerous applications across various industries, including energy, economics, project management, and environmental studies.
In this article, we will delve into the world of Sankey charts, from their creation to their applications, and the benefits they offer to data-driven decision makers.
Creating a Sankey Chart
Creating a Sankey chart involves a few simple steps:
1. Define the Data
You need a data set that includes two components: a set of categories or nodes, and the flow or connections between these categories. The data structure typically follows this format:
(from-node) (to-node) (flow-weight)
node1 node2 value
2. Prepare the Data for Visualization
Before creating your chart, it’s essential to reshape your data into the appropriate structure for Sankey charts. This involves using tools like Excel, Python (pandas), R, or specialized software such as Tableau or D3.js to transform your data.
3. Choose a Tool or Platform
Various tools and platforms provide features for creating Sankey charts, including:
- Microsoft Power BI
- Apache Superset
- D3.js
- Tableau
- Plotly
- Python libraries (networkx, pygal, Plotly, etc.)
4. Configure and Customize Your Chart
Once you have selected a tool, you can begin configuring your Sankey chart by setting up:
* Node labels
* Edge labels
* Node shapes and sizes
* Edge color, shape, and line styles
* Title and annotations
* Interaction options like tooltips and drill-down capabilities
5. Review and Publish
Before publishing your Sankey chart, review to ensure it communicates the intended relationships effectively, and it’s visually appealing. Consider using elements such as color schemes, size, and orientation to enhance readability and clarity.
Applications of Sankey Charts
Sankey charts are widely used in various fields due to their ability to show the flow and transformations of data in a visually intuitive way. Here are some common applications:
1. Energy Flows
In the energy sector, Sankey charts can illustrate the energy generated, consumed, or lost in a power grid or within various energy systems.
2. Supply Chain and Logistics
For businesses, Sankey charts can represent raw material sourcing, production processes, and distribution channels, providing insights into supply chain efficiency and waste reduction opportunities.
3. Project Management
In project management, Sankey charts can visualize resource allocation, task dependencies, and budget distribution across various stages or departments.
4. Economics and Finance
Economic flows, financial transactions, or market sectors can be visualized as nodes connected by flows, revealing patterns, concentration, and efficiency.
5. Environmental Studies
In environmental studies, Sankey charts can depict the flow of pollutants, energy, or resources in ecosystems and urban areas, and contribute to sustainable development strategies.
6. Social Sciences
Across social sciences, Sankey charts can represent complex relationships and flows such as social connections, migration patterns, or voting behavior.
7. Healthcare
In healthcare, Sankey charts can illustrate patient flow through a healthcare system, treatments, or disease progression, providing insights for optimized resource allocation and quality improvements.
Conclusion
Sankey charts unlock the potential for creating visually striking and informative visualizations that enhance understanding of complex flow relationships and data transformations. Whether you’re working in energy, finance, project management, or environmental studies, incorporating Sankey charts into your data presentation arsenal can significantly improve communication and decision-making. By mastering the creation, configuration, and application of Sankey charts, you’ll be able to unlock new levels of insight and impact in your work.
SankeyMaster
SankeyMaster is your go-to tool for creating complex Sankey charts . Easily enter data and create Sankey charts that accurately reveal intricate data relationships.
