Sankey diagrams, named after William Sankey, an engineer who applied them to visualize steam flow through ship engines, have evolved into versatile tools for visualizing complex flows of data across different domains. These diagrams are particularly useful for displaying distributions in different channels or the flow of resources or quantities between processes. Today, they serve as powerful visualization tools in various fields, from energy flow to food production and beyond. Here, we delve into their creation and applications, unveiling the potential of Sankey diagrams to effectively communicate complex information.
Understanding Sankey Diagrams
Sankey diagrams are designed to represent flows or quantities between processes or states. They are created by drawing arrows that represent flows, each with a width proportional to the quantity they represent. This scaling principle allows for a simple and intuitive understanding of the data. The width of the arrows can represent various things, including but not limited to, energy, money, or materials flowing through a system. The complexity of the data can be represented by the number of arrows used.
Creating Sankey Diagrams
Creating a Sankey diagram involves several steps:
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Data Collection: The first step involves gathering the data that you wish to represent. This could involve collecting flow rates or quantities for each data point.
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Data Processing: The collected data must be processed to be appropriate for the graphical representation. This may involve converting the data to a common unit or adjusting the values to ensure they can be accurately represented as widths of arrows in the diagram.
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Designing the Diagram: Decide on the layout of the diagram. Typically, this involves arranging the processes in a logical order with input sources at one end and outputs at the other.
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Creating the Diagram: The design is then translated into a visual representation, where each arrow is drawn to reflect the quantities being represented. Software like Python libraries (such as Plotly or Bokeh) or online tools (such as Tableau or SankeyMATIC) can be used for this purpose.
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Review and Iterate: Finally, the diagram is reviewed to ensure it accurately represents the data and is easily understood. Adjustments can be made to improve clarity or ensure that the scale of the data is appropriately represented.
Application of Sankey Diagrams
Sankey diagrams find application in a wide range of fields:
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Energy Analysis: They are widely used to illustrate energy flows within a system, showing where energy comes from, how it’s transformed, and where it goes.
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Economic Flows: Sankey diagrams can be used to analyze and visualize money flows and economic statistics, showing for instance, the revenue and cost pathways of a company.
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Food Production and Consumption: They help in visualizing the various stages of food production, processing, and consumption, highlighting inefficiencies or losses in the process.
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Process Optimization: Companies and organizations use Sankey diagrams to understand their operations better and identify areas for optimization, such as waste reduction or resource allocation.
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Data Flow Analysis: In the tech and cybersecurity fields, Sankey diagrams are used to analyze data flow and identify vulnerabilities in data transmission and storage systems.
Conclusion
Sankey diagrams offer a unique and powerful way to visualize complex data flows, making them easily understandable and actionable. Their ability to visually represent the distribution of quantities across multiple channels makes them an indispensable tool for data scientists, analysts, and designers. Whether you’re analyzing energy systems, managing a company’s financial flows, or investigating food production, the power of Sankey diagrams lies in their ability to simplify complex data into a clear and concise representation. As technology evolves, so too do new applications for these valuable visualization tools, making them an essential tool for anyone working with flow data.
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