Sankey charts are a type of flow diagram that visualize the movement of a quantity or value through a system. They are named after their inventor, British engineer Matthew Henry Phineas Riall Sankey, who used them to illustrate the flow of energy through the systems of factories and power plants in the late 19th century.
Sankey charts are particularly useful for visualizing complex data that represents the flow of materials, energy, or information through a system. They are often used to show the distribution of resources, energy consumption, or the flow of data through a network. However, they are not limited to these applications. They can be used in any scenario where there is a need to represent flows and the changes that occur within a system.
When creating a Sankey chart, the data needs to be organized in a specific way. First, the source and the destination of the flow must be defined. This can be any two points in the system, such as two nodes in a network or two states in a process. Then, the data needs to be represented as a flow, with the width of the lines indicating the magnitude of the flow. The direction of the lines also needs to be indicated, with arrows pointing from the source to the destination.
Sankey charts can be created using various software tools such as Tableau, Microsoft Power BI, or Python libraries like Plotly and networkX. The process of creating a Sankey chart involves importing the data, creating the chart, adjusting the settings, and finally visualizing the chart.
One of the most significant advantages of Sankey charts is their visual impact. They can quickly convey complex data and allow us to understand the flow and distribution of a quantity or value through a system. They can also help us identify bottlenecks, gaps, and opportunities to optimize the system.
In conclusion, Sankey charts are a powerful tool for visualizing complex data and are widely used in various fields such as engineering, economics, and data analysis. By understanding the process of creating and interpreting Sankey charts, we can use them to optimize our systems and make better informed decisions.

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.