Introduction
Sankey charts are a type of flow diagram that help visualize how data is moving or flowing. These charts are widely used in a variety of fields such as engineering, finance, and operations research to analyze complex systems or processes. In this article, we will explore the power of Sankey charts and their visual language, providing guidance on how to create them and why they are valuable in real-world applications.
Understanding the Sankey Chart
Sankey charts are essentially networks of lines or arrows that represent the direction and volume of data flow. The lines or arrows can be straight or curved, and the size of the lines or arrows reflects the value of the data flowing through them. These charts are named after Lord Kelvin, who is known for his work on heat flows through pipes.
The Sankey chart consists of four types:
- Top-bottom direction flow: This type of flow diagram displays the flow in a top-to-bottom direction, showing how data and information flow from the top to the bottom of a network.
- Left-right direction flow: This type of flow diagram displays the flow in a left-to-right direction, showing how data and information flow from the left to the right of a network.
- Cross-direction flow: This type of flow diagram displays the flow in a diagonal direction, showing how data and information flow from one direction to another.
- Inverted directions flow: This type of flow diagram displays the flow in an inverted direction, showing how data and information flow from the bottom to the top of a network.
Creating a Sankey Chart
To create a Sankey chart, you need to define the structure of the network, i.e., the different groups of entities or activities that interact or affect each other. You can then use the lines or arrows to illustrate the direction and volume of each flow. Additionally, you can color-code the lines or arrows to help distinguish between the different flows.
For example, a financial system network would have entities such as investors and lenders; arrows would represent the direction of loans or investments, and lines would provide the volume of each transaction. Similarly, an engineering network would have entities such as machines and components, arrows would represent the direction of energy flow, and lines would provide the volume of each process.
Sankey Chart Applications
Sankey charts are used in various fields, such as finance, operations research, and engineering to analyze complex systems or processes. Here are some of the applications of Sankey charts:
- Financial Analysis: Sankey charts are used to visualize the flow of finance in a business, project or organization, helping to understand the money flows, its sources and destinations.
- Engineering Analysis: Sankey charts are used in the analysis of engineering systems to visualize the flow of materials and energy, helping to understand the efficiency of the system.
- Supply Chain Analysis: Sankey charts are used in supply chains to visualize the flow of materials and products, helping to optimize the flow, reduce waste and improve efficiency.
- Agricultural Systems: Sankey charts are used in agricultural systems to visualize the flow of water, nutrients and other resources, helping to understand the agricultural system’s efficiency and productivity.
Conclusion
Sankey charts are a powerful visual representation of complex data flows, helping to analyze, visualize and optimize complex systems or processes. They are widely used in a variety of fields such as finance, operations research, and engineering, making them an essential tool for analyzing and understanding the world around us. With the right template and data visualization tools, anyone can create a Sankey chart and understand the flow of information and data within any network.
SankeyMaster
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