Streamlines to Success: The Unforgettable Art of the Sankey Chart
In the quest for visualizing complex data flows with precision and clarity, the Sankey chart—an often-overlooked graphical representation—provides a unique format that can reveal hidden insights and reveal the intricacies of a system at a glance. As a descendant of the original streamlines of fluid dynamic diagrams, it has evolved to offer a contemporary approach to understanding and showcasing the flow of material, energy, or information in a process.
A Glimpse into the Sankey Chart’s History
Conceived by Victorian Engineer Henry Darcy in 1852, the Sankey diagram was initially used to illustrate the efficiency of waterways. The term “Sankey” derives from Irish engineer Matthew Henry Sankey, who adapted the concept for coal consumption in factories around the turn of the century, making the diagram a staple in the field of industrial efficiency. Since then, Sankey charts have found their way into almost every field that involves the analysis of flows and have been refined to become an indispensable tool for systems analysis and data visualization.
The Art of Creation: Crafting Your Sankey Chart
The Fundamentals
The Sankey chart is a special type of flow diagram in which the width of the arrows represents the quantity of material, energy, or cost being transferred. Unlike more traditional flowcharts or bar charts, the emphasis in a Sankey diagram is on showing the magnitude of the energy or material being transferred with less emphasis on the process sequence.
To create a Sankey chart, follow these fundamentals:
1. Identifying Inputs and Outputs: First, determine your input and output values. These are the beginning and end points of the energy or material flow.
2. Deciding Flow Segments: The diagram’s elements are connected segments, which are typically labeled to denote different processes within the system.
3. Determining the Arrows: Arrows denote the flow of the materials between the segments. The width of the arrow indicates the magnitude of the flow.
The Steps
1. Choosing the Software or Tool: Sankey charts can be handmade, but using specialized software like Microsoft Excel, Tableau, or Sankey.js will greatly enhance precision and ease of creation.
2. Structuring Data: Your data should be appropriately structured, often as a series of transactions or flows, detailing the amounts transferred between different system parts.
3. Drawing the Arrow Paths: Starting from the inputs, draw the arrow paths, and use different colors or shades to visually distinguish different types and sources of flow.
4. Scaling Widths: Make sure to scale the widths of the arrows accurately according to the quantities being transmitted.
5. Review and Refine: Once the drawing is complete, review the layout, labeling, and ensure that the flow is intuitive and the data is presented clearly.
The Sankey Chart in Practice: Applications Across Disciplines
In Energy Analysis
Sankey diagrams are a go-to for illustrating energy flows in systems, such as a power plant or a household’s energy usage. This reveals where the energy is going and the points of energy loss, aiding in the identification of efficiency improvements.
In Logistics and Supply Chains
Sankey diagrams can depict the flow of goods, materials, or services within a supply chain. This helps businesses identify bottlenecks or areas where resources are over-consumed, enabling better resource allocation.
In Environmental Studies
Sankey charts provide a transparent view of the flow of resources in ecosystems, such as water, nutrients, or carbon, which is crucial for understanding environmental impact and managing sustainability.
In Economic Analysis
Financial flows, such as government spending, corporate investments, or capital distribution, can be displayed using Sankey diagrams, highlighting the direction and volume of capital flow.
In Industrial and Process Engineering
For companies looking to optimize their processes, Sankey diagrams can help visualize production or manufacturing processes, identifying areas of inefficiency that would otherwise be unseen.
In Healthcare
They’re also used to visualize patient health data, illustrating the flow of medications, treatments, and resources through various healthcare systems.
Conclusion
The Sankey diagram is a versatile and efficient means to represent flows of various types and has become a fundamental tool in a variety of disciplines. Its unique visual approach allows users to spot issues and inefficiencies in flow systems at a single glance. As we delve deeper into the complexities of our networks, ecosystems, processes, and economies, the Sankey chart’s ability to highlight the direction and magnitude of materials, energy, or resources will continue to be an unforgettable art that leads to success in deciphering and designing better systems across the board.
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.
