Dash into Data: Unveiling Insightful Sankey Secrets
In the era of big data, the ability to visualise complex and intricate relationships between data sets becomes an invaluable skill. One highly effective tool for this purpose is the Sankey diagram, also known as a Sankey chart. This article will dive into the world of Sankey charts, explaining their creation and exploring their wide range of applications across various industries.
What is a Sankey Diagram?
A Sankey diagram is a flow diagram used to display the quantity or magnitude of flow between nodes, often used to illustrate energy transfer (or any other process flow) in a process system. They are distinctive for their directional arrows that are typically wider in the nodes where the flow rate is higher, and the arrows narrow as the flow reduces.
The term “Sankey diagram” honours the British mechanical engineer, Dr. William Playfair, a pioneer in data visualization, who created a version of the Sankey diagram in 1857, although the concept has been around since even earlier in various forms.
Creating a Sankey Diagram
Creating a Sankey diagram involves the following steps:
1. Identify the Data and Nodes
First, identify the data you want to represent. These might include inputs, outputs, and the various steps in between. Each of these pieces of information will form a separate node in your diagram.
2. Calculate the Flow Quantities
For the actual visualization, you’ve need to quantify the flow. This might mean calculating the amount of energy, resources, or products that are transferred between nodes during a process.
3. Determine the Order of Nodes
The order of your nodes is crucial. Typically, the diagram starts with inputs on the left and ends with outputs on the right. It is important to note that the width of each arrow depicts the volume of product flowing between nodes.
4. Choose Visualization Software
There are different software tools available for creating Sankey diagrams. These can range from basic graphics packages to data visualization tools with specific Sankey diagram features. Tools like Microsoft Excel, Power BI, Origin, or specialized software like Sankey Designer can be used.
5. Configure and Plot
Configure the chosen software according to the parameters of your data. Set the nodes, connect arrows to represent flow, and scale the width of the arrows according to the flow quantities.
6. Fine-tune the Sankey Diagram
After plotting the initial diagram, it might need some adjustments to ensure clarity and efficiency. This might involve changing the orientation, refining the node positions, or reiterating on the flow arrows’ width.
Applications of Sankey Diagrams
Sankey diagrams have numerous applications across various fields including:
1. Energy Analysis
Sankey diagrams provide an excellent way to visualize the efficiency of energy and material flows within a manufacturing process, in the built environment, or in the generation and supply of energy.
2. Process Optimization
They can help in process engineering by highlighting inefficiencies, material loss, or areas with high energy consumption, which can influence process modifications and cost savings.
3. Environmental Impact Assessment
Sankey diagrams are also utilised to analyze the environmental impact of products, processes, or systems by visualizing the consumption and emission of different resources.
4. Financial Analysis
In business analysis, these diagrams can illustrate the flow of cash, investment, or loans in and out of a business or project, revealing where resources are being allocated and where they might be wasted.
5. Research and Development
Scientists and researchers often use Sankey diagrams to depict research processes, illustrating where resources are allocated, how they are transformed, and the resulting outcomes.
6. Urban Planning
Urban planners and policymakers use Sankey diagrams to visualize the flow of people, goods, or traffic within urban and regional networks to understand the complexity of cities.
Conclusion
Sankey diagrams are a powerful and insightful visualization tool that not only makes information visually appealing but also enhances understanding and decision-making. The creation process, although somewhat complex, is well worth the effort when you consider the rich insights Sankey diagrams can offer. Whether you’re working in the energy sector, business analytics, environmental science, or any field involving a process workflow, learning and using Sankey diagrams is a step towards unlocking the secrets within your data.
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.
