Sankey charts are a fantastic tool for visual storytelling, allowing you to easily communicate complex flows and relationships between different entities. Named after their inventor, energy engineer Matthew Henry Phineas Riall Sankey, Sankey charts are a type of flow diagram where the width of the arrows represents a quantitative value – typically the amount of energy or material being transferred in a system.
In this article, we’ll delve into the world of Sankey charts, exploring how to create them and the various applications in which they can be used. By the end of the article, you’ll be well-equipped to unleash the power of Sankey charts in your own visual storytelling endeavors.

Creating Sankey Charts: A Step-by-Step Guide

Creating a Sankey chart involves several key steps, each focusing on presenting specific elements of your system:

1. Data Preparation

   • Gather all the necessary data for your Sankey chart. This typically includes the flow variables in different categories (source, destination, quantity).
   • Ensure your data is organized in a format that is conducive to Sankey chart software, usually structured as a table with columns for source, target, and value.

2. Choose a Tool

   • Select a tool that supports Sankey chart creation. Popular options include:
     • Tableau – Ideal for business analytics with a user-friendly interface and a high degree of customization.
     • Microsoft Power BI – Great for organizations with existing Microsoft ecosystem investments, offering a range of data visualization options.
     • R and ggplot2 – Particularly suited for statistical users needing more control or integration with statistical analyses.
     • Python (Matplotlib, NetworkX, Plotly) – For developers and data scientists who prefer programming approaches to data visualization.

3. Design the Chart

   • Map out the nodes (representing entities) and links (representing flows) on your chart. In most charting tools, you can easily drag, drop, and arrange nodes.
   • Adjust the width of the links according to the data provided, ensuring visual clarity.

4. Customize and Enhance

   • Apply colors and labels to distinguish different flows effectively.
   • Add annotations or data labels to provide context to the flows within each node or segment.

5. Review and Iterate

   • Preview your Sankey chart to ensure it effectively communicates the intended message without being cluttered.
   • Make adjustments as necessary, focusing on clarity and visual impact.

Applications of Sankey Charts in Various Fields

Sankey charts find applications across various fields due to their ability to simplify complex flows:

1. Energy Flows

   • Presenting energy consumption patterns within a building or across different sources like coal, oil, and renewable energy.
   • Tracking energy efficiency improvements or inefficiencies in industrial processes.

2. Supply Chain Management

   • Visualizing the movement and processing stages of goods from suppliers to customers.
   • Identifying bottlenecks or areas needing improvement in distribution and logistics.

3. Data Analytics

   • Analyzing user navigation patterns on websites or app flows, to optimize user experience.
   • Mapping information flows within knowledge management systems or complex software architectures.

4. Environmental Science

   • Tracking carbon footprints or ecosystems by visualizing inputs, outputs, and transformations in natural resources.
   • Highlighting sources of pollution and areas that require environmental conservation efforts.

5. Sociology and Economics

   • Understanding the distribution of resources within societies or the flow of money in economic networks.
   • Analyzing public opinion dynamics and the propagation of ideas or movements.

Examples of Successful Sankey Charts

• National Grid uses Sankey charts to illustrate the electrical grid with flows of electricity generation from various sources.
• Microsoft deploys Sankey diagrams to depict the flow of data, processes, and performance in its cloud services.
• The Natural History Museum, London employs Sankey charts to visualize water use in a living building, demonstrating conservation efforts.
• Adobe tracks user interaction on its websites, using Sankey charts to highlight critical flowpoints in user journeys.

Conclusion

Sankey charts are a valuable tool in the visual storytelling arsenal, providing a clear, concise means of presenting data flows that might otherwise be complex or difficult to understand. Whether you’re analyzing energy consumption in a smart building, optimizing a supply chain, or tracking information dynamics in a social network, Sankey charts can help you create impactful visual narratives that resonate with your audience. By mastering the creation and application of these charts, you can enhance your ability to communicate complex data elegantly, making your insights accessible to a broader audience.

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.