Flow Visualizations Reimagined: The Intuitive Magic of Sankey Charts

In this era of big data and analytics, the ability to interpret and understand complex information quickly is crucial. Flow visualizations have become an indispensable tool for presenting the dynamics and relationships within processes, resources, and systems. Among these, Sankey diagrams, named after their inventor, Dr. Max Kammerlingh Onnes, have emerged as a particularly intuitive and effective means of communicating flows. Here’s an exploration of Sankey chart creation and their diverse applications across various industries.

Unveiling the Sankey Diagram

Sankey diagrams are a type of flow diagram where the quantity of flow is represented by the width of the arrows in the diagram. The thicker the arrow, the greater the magnitude of flow along that path in the system. The diagram provides a clear visual representation of how energy or material is used within a process and can show the largest or smallest contributions to overall energy use or waste production.

The key insight provided by a Sankey chart is the immediate visibility of inefficiencies or bottlenecks in the flow. It quickly shows where resources are consumed or lost, making them a powerful tool for energy audits, materials flow analysis, and process optimization.

Sankey Chart Creation

Creating a Sankey chart is a multi-step process that starts with collecting flow data. Here is a brief guide to the steps involved:

1. Data Collection: First, gather information about the flows of interest in your system. This could include mass, substances, energy, etc. Ensure that your dataset includes the quantities as well as the starting and ending points of each flow.

2. Flow Direction: Define the direction of the flows for each path you want to represent. Sankey charts are directional and can typically only represent flows moving from start to end points.

3. Scale: Choose a suitable scale for your chart based on the data you have collected. It should be consistent with the magnitudes you want to represent.

4. Software: Select and use Sankey diagram software or a tool that can generate this type of chart. Some popular options for creating Sankey diagrams include SankeyEditor, Microsoft Excel (using its flowchart feature), and dedicated software like SankeyMigator or Sankey Diagrammer.

5. Plotting: Input your data into the software following the established flow directions. Most software will allow you to automatically adjust the thickness of the flow based on the magnitude of the data.

6. Formatting: Once the basic diagram is created, carefully format the chart. This may include setting up axis labels, title, and any necessary annotations. Adjust colors to make the diagram more visually appealing and informative.

7. Optimization: Review the chart and optimize the layout. Adjusting the nodes (junctions) and the paths can provide a more intuitive representation of the data.

Applications of Sankey Diagrams

Sankey diagrams have a wide range of applications across different sectors:

Manufacturing

In the manufacturing industry, Sankey diagrams help in analyzing energy flows, identifying the most resource-intensive processes, and pinpointing areas for energy efficiency improvement.

Environmental Management

Eco-industrial park planning, waste management, and sustainability reporting benefit immensely from clear visualization of resource flows, helping organizations make more sustainable decisions.

Power Systems

Energy analysts employ Sankey diagrams for the representation of electrical grids, heat flow in buildings, and system-level energy analysis to optimize energy consumption and distribution.

Urban Planning

City-level resource management, traffic patterns, and waste infrastructure planning can be visualized and analyzed using Sankey diagrams to improve efficiency and reduce negative environmental impact.

Marketing

In marketing, they can be used to visualize the cost and time spent at different stages of the sales or customer journey to identify inefficiencies or areas that need improvement.

Education

Students of various disciplines benefit from the study of Sankey diagrams, especially in fields like engineering, sustainability, and environmental management, as they provide a visual language that helps in understanding the flow of energy and materials in a system.

Conclusion

Sankey charts have long been part of the toolkit for professionals who analyze complex systems that involve the flow of goods, energy, or information. The intuitive nature of these diagrams allows them to convey vast amounts of quantitative information at a glance. As technology advances and visualization tools become increasingly sophisticated, the Sankey diagram continues to evolve, remaining a vital tool in the data visualization palette. With careful creation and thoughtful design, Sankey diagrams have the power to transform complex processes into a more understandable and actionable context.

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.