Sankey charts, also known as Sankey diagrams, are a type of flow chart that uses arrows to visually represent the flow of data between categories. These charts were named after Scottish engineer and physicist James Watt, who first used them to illustrate steam flow in a steam engine in the late 18th century.
In recent years, Sankey charts have become increasingly popular in various fields, including data journalism, engineering, social science, and economics. They are often used to represent complex data in a visual and intuitive way, making it easier to analyze and understand the relationships between different data sources, destinations, and flows.
Sankey charts consist of three main components: nodes, links, and flows. Nodes represent the categories or segments of the data, while links are the arrows that connect the nodes and represent the flow of data between them. Flows show the amount of data that moves from one node to another, typically with a colored or shaded bar attached to the link.
Creating Sankey charts can be a bit more complex than creating standard graphs, but there are several online tools and software programs that make it easier to produce professional-looking charts quickly. One popular tool is Sankey Charts by Meta-Chart, which allows users to easily create Sankey charts by simply uploading data in CSV or Excel format. Other tools and software programs include D3.js, Tableau, and Microsoft Power BI, each with their own set of features and capabilities.
When it comes to applications, Sankey charts can be used in a variety of contexts to represent data flow and demonstrate relationships between different categories. Here are a few examples:
- Energy use: Sankey charts are often used to represent energy use or consumption, showing how energy flows through different sources (such as fossil fuels, renewable energy, or waste) and how it is then distributed to various destinations (such as households, industry, or transportation).
- Resource flows: Sankey charts can also be used to represent the flow of resources or materials, such as water, minerals, or waste, and to demonstrate how they are transformed or redistributed across different stages of a system. For example, an agricultural supply chain could be visualized, showing how water is used for irrigation, how crops are processed, and how waste materials are generated and recycled.
- Economic flows: Sankey charts can be used to demonstrate economic flows, such as trade between countries, the flow of goods and services within a company, or the distribution of income across different sectors or income levels. This can help to identify trends and patterns, such as the dominance of certain industries or the concentration of wealth in certain regions.
- Social networks: Sankey charts can also be used to represent social interactions or communication flows, such as the flow of information between different groups or individuals. This can help to identify key influencers, patterns of communication, and the overall structure of the network.
In conclusion, Sankey charts are a versatile and powerful tool for representing data flow and demonstrating relationships between different categories. With the help of online tools and software programs, even those who are not proficient in data visualization can easily create professional and visually appealing charts quickly and easily. By visualizing data flow, Sankey charts can help us to understand complex systems and relationships across a wide range of fields.
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.
