Sankey diagrams have been a staple of scientific and engineering documentation for over a century. Originating in the late 1800s with their use in steam engine efficiencies, these flowcharts have evolved from their humble beginnings into a versatile tool for visualizing data flows, from energy and mass transfer to information and financial flows. In this article, we will embark on a flowing ideas journey through the art and science of creating Sankey diagrams, exploring their creation process and diverse applications.
Understanding Sankey Diagrams
At their core, Sankey diagrams visually represent how one unit of something flows through a system, often showing changes of state, transformation efficiencies, and losses. They are constructed as a series of bars that vary in width to represent changes in a quantity that passes through a system. The length of each bar represents the magnitude of the flow and the width of the bar represents the scale of the change. This makes Sankey diagrams an excellent tool for illustrating the flow of a single quantity through a process, especially when changes in the scale of that quantity occur.
The Creation Process
Creating a Sankey diagram involves several steps, each crucial for the diagram’s clarity and effectiveness:
1. Data Collection
The first step involves gathering accurate and detailed data regarding the flow rate and any changes in the scale of your process. This data is essential for accurately representing your process on the chart.
2. Data Analysis
Once data is gathered, it’s analyzed to understand the flow and changes in scale that occur within the process. This step is vital for determining the order and relative sizes of the flows represented in the diagram.
3. Diagram Design
Designing the layout of the diagram involves deciding on the positioning and orientation of the flows, ensuring that the diagram maintains a logical flow and is easy to understand.
4. Drawing the Diagram
In traditional Sankey diagram creation, this step involves physically drawing each bar on the diagram, adjusting the widths based on the data. For digital Sankey diagrams, software tools are used to automate this process, allowing for precise placement and sizing of the bars.
5. Testing and Refinement
After the initial creation, testing it with stakeholders or the intended audience can reveal areas for improvement. Refinement may involve adjustments to labels, colors, or even transformations in the data to better present the process.
Diverse Applications
Sankey diagrams are not confined to the traditional fields of engineering and science; they are applied in a wide range of contexts, including:
- Energy and Climate Studies: They are used by scientists and engineers to analyze energy inputs and outputs, helping to understand energy efficiency and sustainability initiatives.
- Water Management: In the realm of environmental conservation, Sankey diagrams are valuable tools for visualizing water flows, including irrigation, river systems, and groundwater usage.
- IT and Cyber Security: Information flows within networks can be represented and analyzed using Sankey diagrams, helping in the identification of data flows and potential cybersecurity threats.
- Economic Flows and Finance: Investment flows, economic productivity, and financial transaction data can all be depicted in Sankey diagrams, offering insight into economic systems and market dynamics.
Conclusion
Sankey diagrams, with their unique visual representation of data flows, continue to flow into new fields and applications, evolving from their historical use in steam engine efficiency to diverse areas such as environmental science, cybersecurity, and finance. By mastering the creation process and understanding the versatility of the diagram, users can leverage Sankey diagrams to their fullest potential in revealing the intricate flows within any 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.
