Flow Forward: The Vibrant World of Sankey’s Storytelling Charts

In the world of data visualization, there’s a unique, streamlining tool that brings the flow of information to life—Sankey charts. This distinctive graph type offers an artistic yet functional way to depict the quantity of flow in a process, network, or system. Their visual style mimics the flow of liquids through pipes or the exchange of goods and services in supply chains. But what exactly are Sankey charts, how do you create them, and what unique applications can they serve in various industries? Let’s dive into the vibrant world of Sankey’s Storytelling Charts.

A Brief History of Sankey Diagrams

Sankey diagrams were first created by санкт-петербургский математик (Saint Petersburg mathematician) Mikhail Ivanovich Sankey in the 1890s, originally intended for the visualization of heat energy transfers in steam engines. Since then, they have become an essential tool for visualizing almost any type of process flow where the rate of flow is more important than the absolute quantity of material or energy.

How Do Sankey Charts Work?

Sankey charts have a distinctive design, making them instantly recognizable. Here’s how they work:

1. Flow Lines: Lines represent the quantity of material or energy moving through the system.
2. Tapering Lines: The width of the lines thins or thickens to depict the quantity of the flow, so more substantial flows are represented by wider lines.
3. Nodes: Points where lines meet are known as nodes, indicating where materials or energy flow between the processes within the system.

The core principle of Sankey charts is to reveal the efficiency of the system being represented. Efficient systems will show flows that are close to the edges of the diagram, indicating little loss of energy or material, while inefficient ones will have broader lines in the center of the diagram, signifying considerable loss.

Crafting Sankey Charts

Creating Sankey charts requires attention to detail and an understanding of process dynamics. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

1. Identify the Elements: Determine the main components and processes within your system. These become the nodes in your Sankey chart.

2. Allocate Input and Output: Divide the system flow into input and output components, and note their relative sizes.

3. Calculate Flow Quantities: Estimate or gather data on the flow rates for each component within the system.

4. Design the Diagram: Arrange the nodes and allocate the flow quantities into your Sankey chart, paying close attention to the balance between the size of the lines and the quantity they represent.

5. Software Selection: Choose the appropriate software to help create your Sankey chart. Popular tools include Microsoft Excel, commercial diagramming software like yEd, or specialized programs such as SankeyTool or OpenPNM for more complex systems.

6. Finalize and Communicate: Once your Sankey chart is complete, double-check the accuracy of the information and make sure it’s clear and easy to interpret. The story you want to tell in your chart should be immediately obvious to the viewer.

Uses and Applications of Sankey Charts

Sankey charts are versatile and serve a plethora of applications across various fields:

1. Energy Efficiency Analysis: Sankey diagrams can help visualize energy efficiency in industrial systems, identifying points of high energy expenditure or waste.

2. Environmental Impact Assessment: They are useful for depicting the flow of waste products and emissions in manufacturing processes, guiding the development of cleaner technologies.

3. Process Optimization: By highlighting inefficiencies, Sankey charts can help optimize processes in manufacturing, logistics, and other industries.

4. Supply Chain Management: They help map out the flow of goods, resources, and money within complex supply chains, identifying points for improvement, such as reducing transportation costs or improving inventory management.

5. Economic Networks: Visualization of financial trade can reveal investment patterns and help policymakers make informed decisions.

6. Transportation Systems: Sankey charts could depict traffic flow, energy use in public transportation, and more, providing valuable insights for urban planning and infrastructure design.

In conclusion, the world of Sankey charts is a vibrant landscape of data visualization that, through its unique storytelling capability, provides a powerful tool for understanding and improving complex systems. Whether they are used to analyze a factory process or visualize a global economic network, these charts open a window into the intricate dance of processes and materials at work in our world, making the invisible visible, and helping us navigate toward more sustainable and efficient futures.

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.