Sankey charts: A Visual Language for Simplifying Complex Data Flow and Revealing Insights
In the ever-growing realm of data analysis and visualization, a hidden gem lies in the Sankey chart. This unique and intuitive graph, commonly known as the flowchart, has emerged as an indispensable tool for simplifying complex data flow and illuminating insightful patterns. Designed to illustrate the distribution and movement of data from one source to another, Sankey charts provide a clear and visual representation that can streamline decision-making in a multitude of industries.
What Are Sankey Charts?
Sankey charts, first introduced by the British engineer Arthur Sankey in the early 20th century, were designed specifically to convey the distribution of a continuous resource, such as energy, in a pipeline or supply chain. They are essentially a series of interconnected links or segments, each representing a component that contributes to, or absorbs, the data flow. These segments have varying lengths, reflecting the magnitudes of the inputs and outputs.
Creating a Sankey Chart
Creating a Sankey chart is rather straightforward, and most data visualization software and tools offer built-in options. Here’s a step-by-step process:
- Identify the Data: Determine the flow or allocation of resources, goods, or any other data items you wish to visualize. The key data points are the sources, intermediate steps, and destinations.
- Determine the Connections: Map out the relationships between these points. Each flow will have a source, a target, and intermediate values if applicable.
- Assign Values: Assign values to each link based on the quantity or magnitude you want to display. These can be numerical, percentages, or proportions.
- Choose a Tool: Utilize a data visualization platform, like Tableau, Power BI, or Google Sheets, to create your Sankey chart. Follow the provided guidelines to input your data and select the type of Sankey chart you prefer.
- Visualize: The software will automatically create the links and display them on the chart. For clarity, you can customize labels, colors, and node sizes.
Applications: Simplifying Complexity and Uncovering Insights
Sankey charts are exceptionally useful in several scenarios where data relationships and processes are intricate. Here are some common applications:
- Energy and Resource Management: Sankey charts are core to visualizing the distribution of energy in power grids, pipelines, or transportation systems. By highlighting the flow of resources, they help identify bottlenecks and potential improvements.
- Supply Chain Analysis: In manufacturing, logistics, or retail, Sankey charts can show the movement of products from raw materials to end consumers, identifying inefficiencies and areas for optimization.
- Financial Transactions: Banks and financial institutions use Sankey charts to visualize the composition of investment portfolios, the allocation of loan disbursements, or the distribution of revenue.
- Policy Analysis: Government agencies rely on Sankey diagrams to illustrate various policies’ impact on resource allocation, revenue distribution, or environmental emissions.
- Data Transformation: They can also effectively demonstrate the data flow within a system, making it easier to understand how data is transformed or processed at various stages.
In summary, Sankey charts are a powerful visualization tool that simplifies complex data flow and offers an easy-to-understand visual representation. By illuminating patterns and relationships, they enable decision-makers to make better-informed choices, especially in industries that deal with intricate processes and data. As data becomes increasingly complex, Sankey charts will continue to play a crucial role in revealing insights and enabling more efficient operations.
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.
