Sankey charts have become increasingly popular in recent years, with their unique visual representation making it easy to understand complex data flows. A Sankey chart is a flow diagram that uses arrows with varying widths to represent the magnitude of the flow. In this article, we’ll explore how to create Sankey charts and examine some of the applications where they are most effective.
Before diving into the creation process, it’s worth noting that a key component of Sankey charts is the data flow itself. This involves taking raw data, such as sales data or financial transactions, and breaking it down into its component parts to show how the flows between different categories or sources occur. The resulting chart shows a clear visual representation of the flow, highlighting any areas of emphasis or interesting patterns.
Creating a Sankey chart can be done using various software tools or coding languages such as R or Python. Some popular options include Tableau, Power BI, and D3.js (a JavaScript library for creating dynamic data visualizations). Each of these tools has its unique features and capabilities when creating a Sankey chart, but the process generally involves creating a table of input data that describes the flows between different categories or sources.
Once the input data is prepared, there are several steps involved in creating the actual chart. Firstly, the tool will typically generate a basic layout of nodes and edges (the connections between the nodes) based on the input data. Then, the width of each edge will be adjusted based on the magnitude of the flow, typically displayed as arrows or bars that vary in size. The colors and styles of the nodes and edges can also be customized to make it easier to read and understand the flow.
One common application for Sankey charts is to illustrate a supply chain, as we’ve seen in this example showing China’s crude oil imports from 2011-2019:
+------------------------------------+ +-------------------------+ +-------------------------+
| 1 MBD | Global |-> 30%| Middle East |-> 26%| Africa |
+--------+-------------------------+ +-------------------------+----+-----------+-----------+
| China | Asia |<->|Sohar (Oman) | | Asia | Middle |
+--------+----------+ +-------------------+----v-------v-------^ East Europe|
| | South America|<----v-------------^ +------+<------| 690k BPD| 73k BPD |
| +--------+-------->87% America +------v--------------+- ^
| Russia | Germany ------- +--------------V------------+
Another example would be visualizing water flows in irrigation systems:
+-------------------------------+
| Water Source |-------|
+--------v------------^-------^ |
| Inflow A | B + |
+-------------------v-------v------+
Exflow
In conclusion, Sankey charts provide an effective way to display complex data flows in a clear and visually intuitive manner. They are most commonly used in fields that involve supply chains or related applications such as financial transactions or energy flows. Overall, their versatility makes them an excellent tool for data analysts looking to communicate complex information through visuals that their audience can easily understand.
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.
