Decoding Complexity with Sankey Diagrams: A Visual Guide to Flow Analysis and Its Applications
Sankey diagrams are a type of flow diagram in which the width of the arrows is proportional to the flow amount going through them. Although somewhat similar to directed graphs, Sankey Diagrams are a useful way of visualising complex systems and flows, such as data, energy, money, and resources. They enable a clear depiction and analysis of how different parts of a system interact with each other, revealing patterns that might not be apparent in other forms of data representation.
### What are Sankey Diagrams?
Sankey diagrams are named after Thomas Newcomb Sankey, a British engineer who used them in the mid-1800s to represent the energy losses in steam engines and boilers. Since then, Sankey diagrams have evolved into a powerful visual tool for the analysis and presentation of complex systems, such as supply chains, energy consumption patterns, or data flow in computational processes. They are essentially a flow chart with an emphasis on material, energy, or data conservation that is visually more expressive and easier to understand than traditional flow charts or tables.
### Key Features of Sankey Diagrams
1. **Flow Visualization:** Each arrow in a Sankey diagram represents a flow, with the thickness indicating the magnitude of the flow (e.g., quantity of goods, monetary value, energy units).
2. **Conservation Laws:** The diagram ensures that the total flow entering a point matches the total flow exiting it, visually illustrating the conservation of materials, energy, or information within a system.
3. **Hierarchical Representation:** Sankey diagrams can be designed in hierarchical formats, where the size of the nodes (or categories) is proportional to the total flow entering or exiting them, providing a clear measure of the importance of each category.
4. **Customization:** These diagrams allow for the addition of labels, colors, and other visual elements to highlight specific data or trends, adding depth and detail to the analysis.
### Applications of Sankey Diagrams
#### 1. Energy Consumption and Supply
In energy systems, Sankey diagrams are a critical tool for analyzing and optimizing energy production and distribution. By representing the different sources of energy (e.g., solar, wind, coal, and natural gas) and how they are transformed into final energy forms, or lost in the process of conversion, Sankey diagrams help identify inefficiencies and potential areas for improvement.
#### 2. Supply Chain Analysis
In the realm of supply chain management, Sankey diagrams provide a visual way to track material flow from suppliers to manufacturers, as well as from manufacturers to consumers. This helps businesses refine their inventory control, identify bottlenecks, and make strategic decisions on sourcing, production, and distribution.
#### 3. Environmental Impact Assessment
Sankey diagrams can help organizations visualize the flow of raw materials and waste in their operations, aiding in the assessment of environmental impacts. By pinpointing major sources of emissions and waste, companies can implement sustainable practices to reduce their ecological footprint.
#### 4. Data Flow and Information Architecture
In designing and analyzing systems within computer science and data science, Sankey diagrams are used to map data flow, showing how data moves through various components of a system (e.g., databases, servers, networks, and applications). This visualization supports efficient system design, performance optimization, and troubleshooting.
### Conclusion
Sankey diagrams offer a unique and powerful way of understanding complex systems by visualizing the flow of materials, energy, data, or resources. Their ability to convey a comprehensive picture of the interconnectedness and dynamics within systems makes them invaluable tools for analysts, engineers, and decision-makers across multiple industries. Whether it’s improving our understanding of sustainability, optimizing industrial processes, or streamlining data networks, Sankey diagrams provide a clear, intuitive way to make sense of complexity and foster smarter, more informed decisions.
