When it comes to visualizing complex flows of data, traditional charts often fall short. That’s where Sankey charts come in. These visually stunning and informative charts represent flows between different categories, showing the magnitude of each flow in a way that is easy to understand. In this article, we’ll explore the creation and applications of Sankey charts, and unleash the power of flows in your data visualization projects.
Definition of Sankey Charts
A Sankey diagram is a flow diagram in which the width of the arrows represent the magnitude of the flow rate between two quantities. The diagram is named after Captain Matthew Henry Phineas Riall Sankey, who used it to visualize the energy use in his factory. Today, Sankey diagrams are used in various fields such as energy production, economics, material flow, and public health, among others.
Creation of Sankey Charts
Creating a Sankey chart requires a few steps. First, you need to gather the data that you want to visualize. The data should contain the source, destination, and magnitude of the flow for each category. Next, you can use a data visualization tool such as Tableau, Plotly, or Altair to create the Sankey chart.
Once you have the data, you can create the chart by following these steps:
1. Drag the source variable to the left x-axis, the destination variable to the right x-axis, and the magnitude of the flow to the size field.
2. Enable the Sankey chart type from the chart type options.
3. Customize the colors, labels, and layout of the chart to improve visual clarity.
4. Analyze the chart to identify patterns and trends in the data.
Applications of Sankey Charts
Sankey charts have a wide range of applications in various fields. Here are some examples:
1. Energy Production: Sankey charts are often used to visualize the flow of energy from different sources to different destinations. For example, a Sankey diagram can show how energy is produced, distributed, and consumed in a power grid.
2. Economic Analysis: Sankey charts can represent the flow of goods, services, and capital between different sectors of an economy. For instance, a Sankey chart can show how imports and exports between countries contribute to the global trade balance.
3. Material Flow: In manufacturing, Sankey charts are used to track the flow of materials through a production process. For example, a Sankey chart can reveal where waste is generated and where energy is consumed at different stages of the production process.
4. Public Health: Sankey charts can visualize the flow of people through a healthcare system, showing the pathways of patients from diagnosis to treatment. This helps policymakers understand the distribution of resources and identify areas for improvement.
5. Environmental Impact: Sankey charts can be used to track the flow of pollutants through a system, such as air or water, and assess the sources and sinks of pollution.
Conclusion
Sankey charts are a powerful tool for visualizing complex flows of data. By using these charts, you can gain insights into the relationships and distributions within your data, revealing patterns and trends that might be hidden in traditional charts. Whether you’re analyzing energy production, economic trade, material flows, or public health, a Sankey chart can help you communicate your insights effectively and make data-driven decisions. So, next time you’re working with flows of data, don’t hesitate to unleash the power of Sankey charts.

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.