Flow Visualizations: The Art of Sankey Charts Unveiled

Introduction

In an era where data visualizations are key to decoding complex relationships within information, the Sankey chart stands out as a unique and powerful tool. A blend of art and informatics, Sankey charts are a special type of flow diagram used to visualize the quantity of flow within a process. Whether tracking the progression of energy or materials within a system, the Sankey chart offers a clear and intuitive way to understand the dynamics of interrelated quantities. Let’s explore the art and science of Sankey charts, starting with their creation to understanding their diverse applications.

What is a Sankey Chart?

Sankey charts are named after English engineer William Playfair, who popularized them in the early 19th century. However, it was the German engineer and engineer’s engineer, Max Ferdinand von Siemens, who is credited with creating the first true Sankey chart in the late 19th century. These charts consist of arrows that depict the flow of materials, energy, or costs through a process and are characterized by their rectangular “fins” that represent a force or vector field.

The essence of a Sankey chart is its ability to illustrate the directionality and magnitude of each process stage, ensuring that the flow is always from a source to a sink. Their unique design allows viewers to visually compare the size of flows and the efficiency of each transition, making them stand out in the sea of statistical and informative graphics.

Creating a Sankey Chart

Creating a Sankey chart begins with the collection of pertinent data. Here is a step-by-step process that can aid in crafting an effective Sankey chart:

Define the Process: Outline the steps or processes that you want to visualize. It’s important to be as detailed as possible to ensure the chart accurately represents the process.
Gather Data: Collect the actual flow data for each step of the process. This data should include the quantities being transferred between flows.
Choose the Right Tool: Select a visualization tool capable of creating Sankey charts. There are numerous software options available, ranging from simple web-based applications like Sankey Flow to more comprehensive data analysis tools.
Set Up the Chart: With your tool of choice, map out the process as a series of nodes and connect these nodes using arrows or lines to illustrate the flows.
Adjust the Width of the Flows: The width of each arrow in a Sankey chart is a direct reflection of the magnitude of the flow. Adjust the widths accordingly to visually represent the data fairly.
Review and Refine: Ensure the chart is accurate and as legible as possible. Adjust nodes and flows as needed for clarity.

Applications of Sankey Charts

Sankey charts find a wide variety of applications across numerous fields:

Energy Flow: Track the movement of energy through a system, such as energy distribution within a home or in the production and consumption of power in a city.
MaterialsFlow: Follow the journey of materials, like the flow of goods in a global supply chain or water in an urban water system.
Cost Allocation: Visualize the allocation of costs across a product, service, or company, seeing how every dollar is dispersed and where waste occurs.
Data Science: Use Sankey charts to communicate complex data relationships in the context of data processing and data analytics.
Business Analysis: Business strategists can use Sankey charts to optimize processes by analyzing where and how information, goods, and capital are flow through a business operation.

Conclusion

Sankey charts are more than a visualization tool; they are a window into the flow of resources that power our world. By depicting how elements move through a system, Sankey charts unlock the ability to reveal inefficiencies, find optimal paths, and foster a greater understanding of complex processes. Whether you are an engineer, a data scientist, a business analyst, or simply someone looking to make sense of data, mastering the art of creating and interpreting Sankey charts can be a game-changer in understanding the interplay of flows within any given system.

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.