Introduction
Sankey charts are powerful tools for visualizing complex processes and relationships. Originally created by Scottish engineer and chemist, Matthew Henry Phineas Riall Sankey, in the 1860s for demonstrating the conversion of energy, today these charts are widely recognized for their utility in illustrating various types of interconnected data. In this article, we’ll explore the creation, utility, and applications of Sankey charts, including a journey with the Sankey chart in a software tool called Tableau.
Creating Sankey Charts
Creating a Sankey chart requires a few key elements:
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Flow Sources: These represent the starting points of your data flow.
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Flow Destinations: These mark where the data ends up or transitions.
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Flow Strength or Volume: This can be quantified by the width of the arrow or link and represents the significance of the data flow.
Now let’s take a step-by-step guide on how to create a Sankey chart using Tableau:
Step 1: Prepare Your Data
First, ensure your data is in a suitable format. Your CSV or Excel files should include:
- A timestamp (optional, for time-series analysis)
- From field (the source of the flow)
- To field (the destination of the flow)
- Value (optional, to represent the volume of the flow)
Step 2: Load Your Data
Connect Tableau to your data source.
Step 3: Create the Sankey Diagram
- Drag the “From” field to Columns.
- Drag the “To” field to Rows.
- Drag the “Value” field (if applicable) to Shape Size to control the thickness of the flows, and to Color to differentiate by categories.
Step 4: Format and Enhance
- Adjust the size and orientation of the chart to fit your needs.
- Use the “Mark” pane to select “Line” as the mark type.
- Add labels, tooltips, and other elements for clarity and aesthetics.
Step 5: Save and Share
Once your Sankey chart is ready, save it as a Tableau file and share it for others to view.
Applications of Sankey Charts
Sankey diagrams are versatile and can be used across several fields due to their ability to represent the flow of resources, processes, or interactions. Here are a few key applications:
1. Energy Flow Analysis: Sankey charts are often used to depict energy systems, like electrical grids, indicating the flow of power from sources to consumers.
2. Resource Allocation: In business and finance, they can illustrate the allocation of funds, resources, or data across different departments or departments.
3. Supply Chain Management: Show the flow of goods, materials, or services from manufacturers to distributors and retailers.
4. Epidemiology: They can map the spread of diseases, indicating the movement of infections from one location or population group to another.
5. Transport Planning: In urban planning, they represent traffic flows, pedestrian movements, or the impact of transportation infrastructure on travel patterns.
6. Data Flow Analysis: To visualize how data is transferred between different stages or systems within IT infrastructure.
7. Environmental Science: Analysis of water, air, and soil pollution, indicating pathways of pollution and remediation processes.
Conclusion
Sankey charts are a powerful tool for visualizing complex data flows. They can be created using software like Tableau, and deployed in various applications that require detailed tracking of how resources, information, or processes move from one point to another. Whether analyzing transportation networks, allocating budget, or understanding disease prevalence, a well-crafted Sankey diagram provides clear insights through its unique flow representation.
By incorporating the use of Sankey charts into data visualization strategies, organizations and individuals can make more informed decisions based on a fuller understanding of the pathways and patterns of their business or research processes.
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