Sankey charts are a type of network diagram that are often used to visualize complex relationships between different entities in a system. These charts combine the strengths of both pie charts and bar charts, and they are particularly well-suited to visualizing networks that involve the movement of resources or individuals. This article will provide an overview of sankey charts, as well as some practical tips for creating them and applying them effectively to specific types of network data.
What are sankey charts?
Sankey charts are a type of network diagram that are used to visualize complex relationships between different entities in a system. These charts are similar to pie charts in that they divide a diagram into sectors, but instead of using sectors to represent different components of a system, sankey charts divide a diagram into a series of circles, each representing a different category of the chart.
Each circle on a sankey chart represents a different category or entity in a chart. The thickness of the circles corresponds to the amount of flow going in and out of each category, and these flows are represented by arrows pointing into the circle. When a circle is shaded, it represents the sum of all the flows entering the category, and these totals are displayed in the center of the chart.
Sankey charts can be used in a variety of different ways, and they can be applied to different types of networks. For example, a sankey chart can be used to visualize the flow of resources in a supply chain, or it can be used to visualize the movement of people in a population.
Creating sankey charts
Creating sankey charts can be a bit more complex than creating traditional pie charts, but there are several online resources that provide step-by-step instructions for creating sankey charts using software such as Microsoft Excel or D3.js. The instructions typically involve creating two tables: one for the categories and one for the amounts of flow entering each category. These tables can then be combined to create the sankey chart. It’s also possible to use software or libraries such as D3.js to create sankey charts easily on the web.
Application tips for sankey charts
Once you’ve created a sankey chart, there are a number of steps you can take to apply it effectively. It’s important to remember that sankey charts are just one way of visualizing complex networks, and they may not be the most appropriate tool for all types of networks.
One of the most important things to consider when using sankey charts is to ensure that the chart accurately represents the data you’re trying to visualize. If you’re visualizing a network of people in a large city, for example, it may not be as useful to display the number of people in different districts on the chart as it is to consider flow of people between districts. In these cases, you might be able to create a sankey chart for the number of people in different districts, but you should consider whether this would be an accurate way to represent the data.
Another important consideration when using sankey charts is to ensure that the chart is easy to understand. Sankey charts can be a bit more complex than traditional pie or bar charts, so it’s important to make sure that the chart is clear and easy to read. This can be done by using consistent and legible labeling, by shading the circles appropriately to represent totals, and by using clear and concise titles and axes.
Conclusion
Sankey charts are a powerful tool for visualizing complex networks. While they may seem intimidating at first, there are a number of resources available that can make them easy to create, and they can be applied to a wide range of different types of networks. With some effort and care, sankey charts can be a valuable way to represent and analyze network data.
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