Flowing Stories: The Art and Analytics of Sankey Diagrams

Sankey diagrams are a unique and powerful visual tool that can tell a story of flow and energy transfer. They date back to the late 19th century, when English engineer and physicist William Playfair first sketched them, but they’ve found renewed interest and applications in various disciplines today. Flowing Stories delves into the art and analytics of creating sankey diagrams, while highlighting their incredible applications across scientific research, business, and sustainability.

The Artistry of Sankey Diagrams

At first glance, a sankey diagram appears as a creative tapestry of line segments with varying widths, curving across a page. But beneath this artistic surface, there lies a sophisticated and precise representation of the flows within a system.

Components of a Sankey Diagram

1. Flows: The actual quantities or rates that are flowing from one process to another.
2. Nodes: The “nodes” represent the items or processes being transformed or transferred.
3. Paths: Lines connecting nodes show the direction of flow and scale according to the amount of material or energy flowing.
4. Areas: The area within a Sankey diagram segment often represents the overall magnitude of the flow.

The visual art of Sankey diagrams lies in their ability to provide a rich narrative of the system’s interactions through the use of line width, direction, and interconnection.

The Analytics Behind Sankey Diagrams

Sankey diagrams are powerful because they convey a high level of detail about the processes within a system that other chart types like pie charts or bar graphs simply can’t. Here’s how the analytics come into play:

How Sankey Diagrams Analyze Systems

1. Relative Values: Through the width of the lines, sankey diagrams can represent the relative amounts of flow between processes. Thicker lines imply much more significant quantities moving through them.

2. Efficiency: A sankey diagram can easily illustrate inefficiencies by comparing the flows out of an input process with the flows into its output. An imbalance in widths can point directly to areas of significant loss or waste.

3. Decomposition: Sankey diagrams can break down complex systems into more manageable parts, allowing a deeper understanding of the interactions and relationships between components.

The Creation of Sankey Diagrams

Developing a sankey diagram requires a methodical approach to gather data, interpret the system, and create the visual representation. Here are some key steps:

1. Identify the System: Define the boundaries and processes within the system you want to analyze.

2. Gather Data: Collect information on the flows and quantities involved, ensuring accuracy is crucial.

3. Scale Quantities: Determine which properties (such as material, energy, or money) to measure and scale the flows accordingly.

4. Build the Outline: Create a skeletal frame (or outline) representing the nodes and paths.

5. Arrange the Diagram: Position the nodes and paths so that the flows are easily recognizable. It’s important to avoid crossings to maintain clarity.

6. Finalize and Refine: Make sure all details like labels, units, and data sources are present. Adjust the widths of the line segments to accurately convey the data.

Applications of Sankey Diagrams

Sankey diagrams are flexible and versatile, finding applications in numerous fields:

Scientific Research

• Energy usage and conversion within various renewable energy technologies.
• Flow analysis in biological systems, such as blood through the circulatory system.
• Environmental systems, showcasing the flow of toxins and pollutants.

Business

• Identifying costs and profits in complex business models.
• Visualizing the flow of materials, money, and information in supply chains.
• Assessing value chain disruptions and potential efficiencies.

Sustainability and Environmental Policy

• Modeling waste and energy flows in industrial processes for better sustainability practices.
• Evaluating the carbon footprint of specific consumer goods and services.
• Informing policy and regulatory decisions in environmental governance.

Conclusion

The flow of systems takes on new meaning with Sankey diagrams. As a powerful combination of art and analytics, these diagrams can unveil the intricacies, inefficiencies, and opportunities for change that might otherwise be hidden in a sea of numbers. They serve as a window into the stories behind the data, making complex systems more accessible and transparent for analysis and decision-making.

From the intricate tales of energy consumption to the granular narratives of financial transfer, Sankey diagrams are a vital tool for unpacking the hidden flows of our interconnected world. As we delve deeper into flow analysis, the art and science of Sankey diagrams promise to continue evolving, providing even richer insights into the systems that shape our lives.

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.