Introduction

Sankey charts are a type of flow chart that can be used to visualize directional data, such as the flow of goods, services, or monetary transactions. They are particularly useful for identifying bottlenecks and areas of inefficiency in these types of systems. In this article, we will explore how to create Sankey charts and the various applications of this type of visualization.

Creating Sankey Charts

To create a Sankey chart, you will need to have a dataset that contains the directional data you want to visualize. This can be a spreadsheet or a database, and the dataset should contain information about the start and end points of each flow, as well as the amount or volume of goods, services, or transactions flowing between them.

Once you have your dataset, you can use a spreadsheet software such as Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, or LibreOffice Calc to create your Sankey chart. Here are the steps to create a Sankey chart using Excel:

1. Open Excel and create a new worksheet.
2. In cell A1, enter “Start”. In cell B1, enter the first value in your dataset. Repeat this process for each start point.
3. In cell A2, enter “End”. In cell B2, enter the first value in the dataset for the next flow. Repeat this process for each end point.
4. In cell A3, enter “Flow”. In cell B3, enter the amount of the flow. Repeat this process for each flow.
5. Highlight the cells containing the start values and the flow values.
6. Right-click and select “Sankey chart”.
7. Adjust the chart settings as desired to customize the appearance.

Applications of Sankey Charts

Sankey charts are a powerful tool for visualizing directional data and can be used in a wide variety of applications, including:

1. Supply chain management: Sankey charts can be used to visualize the flow of goods or services through a supply chain, highlighting any bottlenecks or areas of inefficiency.
2. Financial analysis: Sankey charts can be used to visualize the flow of money through a financial system, identifying areas where money is being transferred or spent inefficiently.
3. Environmental management: Sankey charts can be used to visualize the flow of waste or pollutants through an ecosystem, highlighting areas where pollution is or is not being effectively managed.
4. Social networks: Sankey charts can be used to visualize the flow of people or ideas through a social network, identifying areas where people are interacting or moving inefficiently.

Conclusion

Sankey charts are a valuable tool for visualizing directional data and can be used in a wide variety of applications. By creating a Sankey chart, you can gain a better understanding of the flow of your system and identify areas where changes can be made to improve efficiency and productivity.

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