Flow Visualities Unleashed: The Vibrant World of Sankey Charts
In the world of data visualization, Sankey charts are like a secret society. They’re not the talk of the town, but they are a highly effective and underappreciated tool for illustrating processes, flows, and energy transfer. A Sankey chart, also known as an “energy flow” or “heat flow” diagram, was first conceptualized by Captain Sankey in the 1890s to track the energy flows within a steam engine. Today, this unique chart type has evolved into an essential tool for illustrating complex systems in finance, technology, logistics, and many other sectors.
What Are Sankey Charts?
Sankey charts are flow diagrams that represent the quantity or magnitude of a substance or energy passing from a process. The flow of materials, energy, or money moves from a source at the left through an array of stages to a destination at the right, all connected by arrows. These arrows’ thickness varies proportionally to the value of the flow they represent, making flow visualities more comprehensible than a traditional flow chart.
The Art and Science of Sankey Chart Creation
Creating a Sankey chart involves a carefully designed combination of graph theory, geometry, and visualization best practices. Here’s a step-by-step guide to unleash the power of Sankey charts:
Step 1: Define Your Data
Start by analyzing your data to understand the various components and their relationships. Sankey charts are best used when you have measures that you want to compare or contrast along a common pathway.
Step 2: Determine the Scope of Your Chart
Decide on the aspects of the system that you want to represent and their flow from input to output. This may involve some simplification of the system to make it both comprehensible and visually impactful.
Step 3: Choose Your Software
Several software tools and programming libraries, such as Adobe Illustrator, Microsoft Visio, and the Python library Sankey diagrams with networkxandmatplotlib`, offer functionality to create Sankey diagrams.
Step 4: Construct the Channels
Channels are the vertical lines that run the length of the Sankey chart. They represent the different states or steps in the process. Ensure your channels are labeled clearly to avoid confusion.
Step 5: Plot the Flows
Assign a line thickness to each flow that mirrors its magnitude. This can be challenging due to the limitations of the human eye in discerning subtle differences. Consider using a logarithmic scale or software-specific techniques to optimize visualization effectiveness.
Step 6: Final Touches
Once the basic structure is in place, you would likely add labels to the channels and nodes, as well as color-coding to differentiate between different types of flows or processes. Ensure that your color palette is consistent and easy to interpret.
Applications of Sankey Charts
Sankey charts are uniquely versatile, applicable in a variety of contexts:
Energy Flow Visualization
Sankey diagrams are a must for energy systems analysis, where they illustrate how energy input and output are transformed and used within a process. They can show the efficiency of heat engines, the distribution of electrical energy usage, and the impact of energy conservation measures within a building.
Financial Flow Analysis
In the financial sector, Sankey charts can break down the flow of funds between different accounts, illustrating capital allocation and investment paths. This helps financial analysts and investors to trace money and understand where resources are being directed.
Production and Logistics
For manufacturing and supply chain management, Sankey charts demonstrate the flow of goods, materials, or information. They enable companies to find bottlenecks, optimize their production capacity, and streamline their logistics workflows.
Environmental Flows
Environmental scientists use Sankey diagrams to visualize the flows of carbon, water, or pollutants in ecosystems, making it easier to model and mitigate environmental impacts.
Conclusion
The world of Sankey charts may not be as loud as some other visualization tools, but within the communities that need to understand the flow of processes, their value is immense. With their unique ability to show the quantity of flow at a glance and reveal inefficiencies and potential improvements, Sankey charts represent a powerful way to communicate complex systems. Embrace the art of flow visualities and unlock the vibrant world of Sankey charts to convey the invisible and make the complex apparent.
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.
