Sankey charts are a visually striking and incredibly informative way to represent data flows. Originating from the late 19th century, these charts have evolved over the years to become a favorite among data analysts, scientists, and researchers for their ability to convey complex flow data in easily digestible visual form. In this article, we’ll delve into the power of Sankey charts, explore their creation, and discuss their diverse applications across various industries.

What Are Sankey Charts?

Sankey charts are a type of flow diagram where arrow-like “links” connect sources, flows, and sinks. Each link’s thickness is proportional to the flow’s volume or importance, making it easy to identify the magnitude of flow between different entities. This chart type is particularly suited for visualizing the distribution, movement, or flow of quantities between categories or over time.

Creation of Sankey Charts

There are various tools available both online and offline for creating Sankey charts. Here, we’ll cover three popular methods: using Excel, online Sankey chart makers, and Python libraries.

Using Excel

Microsoft Excel provides a simple way to create Sankey diagrams through the “Insert” feature. Follow these steps:

1. Prepare Data: Organize your data in a table with columns for “Source,” “Flow,” and “Target,” and optionally “Volume.”
2. Insert Chart: Click on the Insert tab, then select Chart > Insert Hierarchy Chart > Sankey.
3. Customize: Adjust the colors, labels, and layout to make the chart visually appealing and informative.

Online Sankey Chart Makers

These tools allow you to create charts without knowing programming or spreadsheet software. Websites like Sankey Chart Creator, Canva, and SmartDraw offer:

• Drag-and-Drop Interface: Pick elements from a library and arrange them.
• Customization Options: Adjust colors, labels, and style.
• Sharing Capabilities: Publish to web or download as images.

Python Libraries

For advanced customization and automation, the Python programming language offers libraries like Sankey.

• Data Preparation: Use a Pandas DataFrame with columns nodes, link, and value.
• Chart Creation: Import Sankey from the networkx library, then call Sankey.create().
• Customization: Customize layout, color, and node labels using Sankey methods.

Applications of Sankey Charts

Sankey charts find applications in a wide range of fields due to their ability to convey complex relationships and flows visually.

1. Energy Industry

Energy analysts use Sankey charts to visualize energy production, distribution, and consumption processes, highlighting efficiencies and energy lost during transmission.

2. Environmental Science

Environmental scientists chart carbon流, water cycles, and waste management processes to understand and optimize resource utilization and environmental impacts.

3. Transportation Analysis

Urban planners and traffic engineers depict transportation and freight flows across regions, identifying bottlenecks and opportunities for efficiency improvements.

4. Business Analytics

In business, Sankey diagrams are used to illustrate supply chains, showing supplier relationships, product flows, and distribution strategies.

Conclusion

Sankey charts are a powerful tool for visual communication, enabling data analysts, researchers, and decision-makers to easily understand and communicate complex flow dynamics. Whether you’re delving into energy usage, environmental studies, transportation planning, or business analytics, Sankey charts offer an innovative solution to visualize and make sense of data flow processes. With their versatility and the availability of user-friendly tools and programming libraries, they are a valuable addition to any data visualization arsenal.

SankeyMaster

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