Introduction:
A Sankey chart, also known as a flowchart, is a chart that displays network flows between different elements. This chart makes it easy to visualize the direction and amount of a flow through a network of elements. In this article, we will discuss the creation and applications of Sankey charts, including insights on how to create them and when they should be used.
Sankey Chart Creation:
A Sankey chart consists of five elements: starting point, end point, flow arrows, direction arrows, and a flow path. The starting and end points represent where the flow originates and ends, respectively. The flow arrows represent the direction of the flow, while the direction arrows indicate whether the flow is flowing to the start point or the end point. The flow path is a line between the starting and end points, and it shows a visual representation of the flow.
The creation of a Sankey chart requires the use of software or a table to organize the data on the elements. Here are the steps to create a Sankey chart:
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Organize the data: Gather all the information you want to place on the chart and organize it into specific columns, such as ‘source’, ‘target’, ‘amount’, and ‘flow type’.
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Create the table: Fill in the table with the data organized previously. Each row represents the data for one element, and each column represents a separate element.
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Draw the flow arrows and direction arrows: For each element in the table, draw a flow arrow that points from the source to the target. Also, draw a direction arrow that shows the flow direction.
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Draw the flow path: Determine the flow path by calculating the average distance between each source element and each target element on the grid. Mark the path with a line between each source and target.
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Add labels: Label each flow arrow and direction arrow with a description of the flow.
Applications of Sankey Charts:
Sankey charts have a wide range of applications in various fields, including project management, business analysis, transportation, and environmental science. Here are some applications:
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Project Management: Sankey charts can help project managers track the flow of resources, such as materials and labor, through a project.
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Business Analysis: Sankey charts can be used to visualize the flow of resources between different departments or stakeholders in a business.
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Transportation: Sankey charts can be used to visualize the flow of resources between modes of transportation, such as train and bus, to improve traffic flow and reduce travel time.
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Environmental Science: Sankey charts can be used to visualize the flow of resources in a network of ecosystems, such as a river or a forest, to understand how the environment is changing.
Conclusion:
Sankey charts are a great way to visualize the direction and amount of a flow through a network of elements. Their simplicity and ease of use make them a useful tool in any field that involves network analysis. By understanding the creation and applications of Sankey charts, you can better understand how to create and use this visual representation of flow.
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