Sankey Magic: Unleashing the Secrets of Flowchart Visualization
Sankey charts are a type of flowchart that can be used to represent the flow of materials, energy, or information between different entities. They are an effective way to visualize complex systems and identify areas for improvement. In this article, we will explore the creation and applications of Sankey charts.
What is a Sankey Chart?
A Sankey chart is a flowchart that uses directed arrows to represent the flow of materials, energy, or information between different entities. The chart consists of a set of nodes (entities) and directed edges (flows) that connect them. The edges have weights or capacities assigned to them, which represent the amount of material, energy, or information that can flow through them. The chart is named after its creator, Dr. Charles Sankey, who developed it in the early 20th century as a tool for analyzing industrial processes.
Creation of a Sankey Chart
Creating a Sankey chart involves several steps:
- Identify the entities and flows: Identify the entities that are involved in the process you want to visualize and the flows between them. For example, you might be visualizing the flow of water through an industrial process or the movement of goods through a supply chain.
- Define the nodes: Define each entity as a node in the chart with its own label and attributes (such as location or type). You can also add additional nodes to represent intermediate steps in the process or external factors such as suppliers or customers.
- Assign weights to the edges: Assign weights or capacities to each edge representing the amount of material, energy, or information that can flow through it. This can be done manually by assigning values to each edge individually or by using data analysis tools such as Excel to automatically calculate these values based on your data.
- Customize the chart: Customize the chart by adding shapes such as rectangles or diamonds to represent intermediate steps in the process, changing colors and fonts for clarity, and adding additional annotations such as labels or comments.
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SankeyMaster
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