Flow Facts Visually: The Art of Sankey Charts
When it comes to depicting the flow of things, from the movement of electrons to the energy consumption in a factory, there’s a visual tool that can help you understand complex systems with a single glance: the Sankey chart. These remarkable diagrams, first introduced by the English Engineer and Physicist, William D. F. (Williamton) Sankey, have been used for over a century to show the flow of materials, energy, or costs. Now, let’s demystify the art of Sankey chart creation and delve into their diverse applications.
The Sankey Chart: A Quick Overview
Sankey charts are directional diagrams that illustrate the quantity of energy or material transported through a process system. The thickness of the arrows or “flows” decreases as the flow rate decreases, highlighting where the most material or energy is lost or transformed. They are often used to compare efficiency and identify areas for potential improvement.
Creation of Sankey Charts: A Step-by-Step Guide
Creating a Sankey chart is a meticulous process, but with some fundamental steps and tools, you can create informative and visually engaging diagrams. Here’s a basic guide:
1. Identify Your Flows
Firstly, you must decide what you want to assess, whether it’s energy consumption, materials flow, or money movement. These are your flows and they form the core of your Sankey chart.
2. Define Your Process Nodes
Nodes represent the starting and ending points of flows in your system. They correspond to the processes through which energy or material passes. For example, in a production line, nodes might include the raw materials, the production processes, and the finished goods.
3. Determine Flow Directions
Next, establish the directions in which your material or energy moves. The arrows in a Sankey chart flow from input to output, and the direction of flow is typically from left to right or top to bottom.
4. Draw Your Nodes and Connect Flows
Begin by drawing the nodes for all the processes. Then, connect them with arrows that represent the flows from one node to another. As flow quantities decrease, thin them out in the diagram.
5. Add Labeling
Ensure that the nodes and flows are labeled appropriately with the names of the processes and the quantities they represent.
6. Enhance the Chart with Design Elements
Finally, make your Sankey chart visually appealing with proper color coding, annotations, and a consistent layout to make the interpretation easier.
Sankey Charts in Practice
Sankey charts are widely used across various fields and industries. Some applications include:
1. Energy Systems Analysis
Sankey diagrams are an ideal way to depict the energy flow in buildings, factories, and entire grids. They allow engineers and policy makers to identify inefficiencies and propose solutions.
2. Environmental Impact Assessments
Environmental scientists use Sankey charts to track the flow of waste and to evaluate the environmental impact of different strategies or technologies.
3. Business Analytics
In corporate settings, Sankey charts help visualize financial flows, such as funding allocation and revenue streams from different business units.
4. Material Flow Analysis (MFA)
MFA is a method for representing and analyzing materials flows within a society. Sankey diagrams are instrumental in depicting the life cycles of products and materials.
5. Communication and Public Awareness
Sankey charts are useful in conveying complex information in a simplified format, making them a valuable tool for communication between scientists, engineers, and the public.
Conclusion
Sankey charts are more than just another form of data visualization; they are tools that can highlight the flow of information or energy in our modern, complex world. While their creation requires precision, the returns are substantial, offering a clear picture of what might otherwise seem chaotic. Whether in industry, government, or education, the art of Sankey chart creation can bring clarity to the flow of resources and processes, leading to better insights and more informed decision-making.
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.
