Sankey charts are a type of flow diagram used to visualize the movement of quantities through a system. They are particularly useful for visualizing the flow of energy, material, or resources through processes, and can be a powerful tool for communicating the dynamics of complex systems. In this article, we’ll explore the basics of Sankey chart creation and some of the applications where they can be used to great effect.
History of Sankey Charts
Sankey charts are named after Captain Matthew Henry Phineas Riall Sankey, a British mechanical engineer who first introduced the chart in the 1860s to visualize the energy flow through a steam engine. The chart is also known as a flow diagram, and it’s a form of stacked bar chart that represents the distribution of quantities across different branches or categories. It uses arrows or lines to connect the different nodes or categories, and the width of the lines represents the magnitude or flow between nodes.
Components of a Sankey Chart
A typical Sankey chart consists of several key components:

• Nodes: These are the starting and ending points of flows, and they can also represent categories or processes in the system being visualized.
• Flows: These are the arrows or lines connecting the nodes, and they represent the transfer of quantities between them. Each flow is typically labeled with its name (e.g. “energy input” or “product output”), and its color may also indicate its purpose or source.
• Volume: The width of each flow line represents the amount or magnitude of the quantity being transferred. This allows viewers to quickly see the most significant flows and the overall flow balance of the system.
• Stacking: The flows are often visualized as stacked bars, with each level representing a different category or subcategory of flows. The stacked bars can be arranged horizontally or vertically, depending on the chart’s orientation.

Creating Sankey Charts
To create a Sankey chart, you need to provide data on the flows between different nodes in your system. This data can be in the form of a table or a matrix, and it should include the names of the nodes or categories, the names of the flows, and the corresponding values for the width or volume of each flow. You can then use a visualization tool or software that supports Sankey charts to create the chart, arranging the nodes and flows and adjusting the layout and color scheme as required.
Some popular tools for creating Sankey charts include:

• Gephi, a network visualization software that allows you to create and customize Sankey charts with ease.
• D3.js, a JavaScript library that provides powerful data visualization capabilities, including the ability to create Sankey diagrams.
• Tableau, a data visualization tool that can easily generate Sankey charts from CSV or Excel data.
• SankeyMD, a specialized tool for creating hierarchical Sankey diagrams with advanced customization options.

Applications of Sankey Charts
Sankey charts are particularly useful for visualizing the dynamics of complex systems, and there are many applications where they can be used to great effect. Here are some examples:

• Energy systems: Sankey charts can show the flow of energy from different sources through a power grid, and the distribution of energy to different end-users.
• Supply chains: Sankey charts can be used to visualize the flow of goods or materials through a supply chain, demonstrating the sources and destinations of each product and the various processing stages involved.
• Financial flows: Sankey diagrams can show the flow of money between different financial institutions, depicting the distribution of loans, investments, and other financial transactions.
• Resource management: Sankey charts can be used to visualize the flow of resources through different processes, such as water usage or waste management systems.
• Human behavior: Sankey diagrams can be used to model the flow of social networks, tracking the movement of people between different groups or communities and demonstrating the relative influence of each node in the network.

In conclusion, Sankey charts are an excellent tool for visualizing the dynamics of complex systems, and they can be used in a wide range of applications to help stakeholders understand and optimize processes, systems, and networks. Whether you prefer to create Sankey charts by hand or use specialized tools, they can be a powerful way to communicate the flow of quantities through systems and make data-driven decisions based on visual insights.

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.