Sankey charts are a powerful visualization tool that can help you understand the flow of data or materials in any system. These charts are named after their inventor, an engineer named H. S. Sankey, who created them in the 19th century to demonstrate the energy losses in steam engines. Today, Sankey charts are used in a wide range of fields, from economics to environmental science to information technology, to help people understand complex flows of materials or data.
Creating a Sankey chart is a relatively simple process, but there are a few important things to keep in mind. First, you need to have a clear understanding of the data you want to visualize. This means breaking down your data into its component parts, or nodes, and understanding how those parts are connected.
Next, you need to decide on a layout for your chart. This involves determining which nodes to include and how they will be connected. One common approach is to start with a single input node and then show how the data flows through the system, making its way to one or more output nodes.
Once you have your data and layout in hand, you can begin creating your Sankey chart. The chart should consist of three basic elements: arcs, nodes, and flows. The arcs represent the connections between nodes, the nodes themselves represent the different entities or categories in your system, and the flows represent the quantities of data or materials that flow between the nodes.
To make your chart more readable, you can use color to differentiate between different flows and highlight important connections. For example, you might use a lighter shade of color for minor flows and a darker shade for major flows, or you might use different colors to represent different types of data.
In terms of applications, Sankey charts are incredibly versatile. Here are just a few of the many ways they can be used:

• In economics, to show how national income is distributed among households, businesses, and government
• In energy usage, to illustrate how energy flows between different sources and consumers
• In resource management, to show how resources are allocated among different uses and purposes
• In data science, to show the flow of data through a machine learning pipeline or data processing workflow
• In environmental science, to show how pollutants or contaminants move through a system, such as a city or a body of water

Overall, Sankey charts are a powerful tool for understanding complex flows of data or materials. They provide a clear and intuitive way to visualize how quantities move through a system, which can help you identify important patterns and make better decisions. If you’re working with data or materials that are moving through a system, consider creating a Sankey chart to help you better understand the flow.

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.