Sankey charts are a type of flowchart that are commonly used to illustrate dependencies between different data sets or resources. These charts were first introduced in the 1950s by sociologist Kenneth C. Young, who used them to illustrate the flow of power in a hierarchy. Since then, they have become a versatile tool for data analysis, used in a variety of fields including social sciences, economics, and engineering.
In this article, we will take a closer look at how sankey charts are created and their applications, with the help of an illustrated guide.
Creating Sankey Charts
Sankey charts are typically created using a software program or a spreadsheet application such as Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets. The steps involved in creating a sankey chart are as follows:
1. Identify the data: Begin by identifying the data that you want to use in your sankey chart. This could be data related to a particular issue, process, or flow of resources.
2. Set up the axes: On the x-axis, define the different sources or areas of the flow, such as resources, tasks, or people. On the y-axis, define the different destinations or areas of the flow.
3. Draw the lines: To represent the flow of resources in the sankey chart, connect the source to one or more ports using a line or directed edge. Each line corresponds to a different flow of resources between the sources and destinations. The direction of the line indicates the direction of the flow (from left to right or from top to bottom).
4. Adjust the labels: To provide context to the Sankey chart, add appropriate labels to each line, such as the name of the source, destination or flow.
5. Format the chart: Finally, format the Sankey chart to make it easy to read and understand. This could include colors, line styles, and positioning.
Examples
Sankey charts have been used to illustrate a variety of business and social problems, as well as to explore economic relationships between different countries and regions. Here are a few examples:
1. Sankey charts have been used to explore the flow of power within governments. For example, this chart from the Department for International Development was used to illustrate the flow of money from the UK government to international humanitarian organizations, such as UNICEF and Oxfam.
2. This example from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime shows how the flow of resources between different countries and regions is influenced by trade and migration.
3. A sankey chart was used to explore the flow of human rights violations in the Syrian Civil War. The chart shows the flow of resources between different actors involved in the conflict, including the Syrian government, rebel groups, and international organizations.
Applications
Sankey charts can be used for a wide variety of data analysis and visualizations. Here are a few examples:
1. Identifying dependencies: Sankey charts can help identify dependencies and interconnections between different data sets or resources. This can be useful in decision-making processes, where the analysis of data flows can provide insights into complex processes or systems.
2. Analyzing flows of resources: Sankey charts can be used to analyze the flow of resources in different sectors or areas. This can be useful in sustainability and resource management, as well as in the analysis of natural and environmental processes.
3. Exploring cause and effect relationships: Sankey charts can be used to identify links between two variables, such as cause and effect relationships. This can be useful in understanding how different factors are related to each other, and how changes in one variable can impact the other.
Conclusion
Sankey charts are a powerful and versatile tool for data analysis and visualizations. Their ability to illustrate dependencies, analyze flows of resources, and explore cause and effect relationships makes them a valuable tool for a wide variety of fields. Whether you’re studying the flow of power within a government, exploring the economic relationships between countries and regions, or analyzing the flow of resources in a specific sector, a sankey chart can provide valuable insight and analysis.
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