Flowing Insights: The Unseen Magic of Sankey Charts
In the vast landscape of data visualization tools, Sankey diagrams stand out like a beacon, revealing the intricate pathways and flows of complex systems. These distinctive graphs are both an art form and a data analysis tool, allowing visualizers to depict processes and resource transfer with a unique elegance that conventional charts cannot match. In this article, we delve into the creation and applications of Sankey charts, often termed the “unseen magic” of data representation.
The Essence of Sankey Charts
Sankey charts originated in the 19th century as an engineering tool to analyze and optimize the energy flows in heating and cooling processes. Over the years, their application has expanded to include various fields such as economics, environmental studies, and logistics. The distinctive feature of a Sankey chart is the wide and narrow representation of flows, where the breadth of each line relates to the magnitude of the data it represents.
The Magic unfolds: Creation of Sankey Charts
The magic behind a Sankey chart happens in the meticulous creation process which involves several steps.
1. Define the Data
Sankey charts are best used to show the movement of flow between nodes over time, energy, or volume. Collect data that represents the flows you wish to analyze. For example, in a corporate context, this could involve monetary flows, resource use, or product distribution over a specific period.
2. Choose the Tool
Sankey chart creation can be done manually using drawing programs or through various software applications designed for data visualization. The use of software tools offers more control and customization, such as Excel, Power BI, Google Charts, and specialized tools like Node-RED or Gephi.
3. Create Nodes and Connections
Nodes are the starting and ending points of the flows, and they can be virtually anything from individual entities to processes. Connections are the arrows that show the flow between different pieces of data. In the design software, you will create these elements as you want them to be depicted.
4. Format the Diagram
Adjust the width of your Sankey lines according to the flow magnitude, ensuring the visual hierarchy is clear and can easily be understood at a glance. Label your nodes and connection points for clarity.
5. Color Coding and Themes
Use different colors to categorize and differentiate flows, helping the viewer to quickly grasp information about different subsets within the main flow. Applying suitable themes increases the aesthetic appeal and maintains professionalism.
6. Validation
As with any chart, ensure your Sankey diagram represents the data accurately. Double-check flow direction, magnitudes, and data sources.
Applications: Where Sankey Charts Excel
1. Energy and Environmental Studies
Sankey diagrams are particularly effective at illustrating the efficiency of energy transmission in various systems, from heat to electricity. They show how energy flows and where there are inefficiencies, aiding in the optimization of processes.
2. Logistic and Supply Chain Analysis
In the world of logistics, Sankey charts can show the flow of goods or services from suppliers to customers. This type of visualization helps in understanding bottlenecks and optimizing supply chain operation.
3. Financial Analysis
Accounting teams use them to visualize financial flows, including the flow of funds between different departments or between a company and its stakeholders, helping to identify areas of strong or weak financial performance.
4. Environmental Impact Assessment
Sankey diagrams can show how different resources flow through a process, helping to identify areas where environmental impact is highest and where reductions could be made.
5. Business Model Analysis
By mapping the flow of resources and value through a business, Sankey charts can help entrepreneurs and managers visualize and refine their business models.
The Final Word
Sankey charts offer a visually enchanting way to understand and communicate the flow of entities within a system. They manage to condense complex data into a simple and intuitive format that is both educational and informative. Creating a Sankey diagram requires attention to detail and proper tooling, yet the insights obtained make the effort worthwhile. As a versatile tool that unearths the unseen magic of data flow, Sankey charts are essential in any data scientist’s, business analyst’s, or researcher’s toolkit.
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.
