Sankey charts are a powerful visualization tool that can help you understand the flow and connections between different data points. These charts are widely used in various fields, including science, engineering, economics, and healthcare, to name a few.
In this article, we will explore the power of Sankey charts, their creation, and some of their practical applications.
What are Sankey Charts?
Sankey charts are a type of flow diagram that shows the distribution and flow of a quantity between different sources and destinations. In a Sankey diagram, the width of the arrows is proportional to the flow rate, allowing you to visualize the importance of each flow.
Sankey charts are named after Captain Philip Henry Sankey, who created the first Sankey diagram in 1898 to show the energy consumption of the Lady Byron, a Cunard steamship.
Creation of Sankey Charts
Creating a Sankey chart requires a few steps. The first step is to gather data. You will need data on the source, destination, and the flow between them.
Once you have your data, you can create a Sankey chart using any visualization tool. The most popular tools for creating Sankey charts are Tableau, PowerBI, and Microsoft Excel.
Let’s look at an example of creating a Sankey chart in Tableau. You can follow these steps to create a Sankey chart:
- Import your data into Tableau.
- Drag the “source” field to the “Source” drop-down menu and the “destination” field to the “Destination” drop-down menu.
- Drag the “flow” field to the “Values” drop-down menu.
- From the “Measure” drop-down menu, choose the “Total” option.
- Click on “Show Me” and select the Sankey chart option from the visualization menu.
- Adjust the chart’s appearance and add labels, colors, and other customization options to suit your needs.
Applications of Sankey Charts
Sankey charts are used in various fields for a wide range of applications. Here are some of the practical uses of Sankey charts:
- Energy flow diagrams: Sankey charts can be used to visualize the flow of energy through a system, showing the input, output, and losses. This helps in identifying energy-efficient improvements in industrial processes.
- Material flow analysis: In manufacturing processes, Sankey diagrams can show the flow of raw materials, waste, and products, allowing you to identify areas with excessive waste generation and potential recycling opportunities.
- Supply chain analysis: Sankey charts are useful in visualizing the flow of goods and services between suppliers, manufacturing plants, and customers.
- Financial flows: In finance, Sankey charts can illustrate the flow of money between different financial institutions, investors, and other transactions, making it easier to understand complex financial ecosystems.
- Healthcare and epidemiology: Sankey diagrams can help track the flow of patients between different stages of disease progression, hospitals, and treatment facilities.
- Environmental studies: Environmental impact analysis often uses Sankey diagrams to show the distribution of different substances, such as greenhouse gases, pollutants, or waste products, through ecosystems.
Advantages of Sankey Charts
Sankey charts offer a range of benefits:
- Clear Visualization: By displaying the flow size and direction, Sankey charts provide a clear and visually intuitive representation of data flow, which can be challenging to perceive in other types of charts.
- Comparative Analysis: Sankey charts make it easy to compare the magnitude of flows between different sources and destinations, enabling you to identify patterns, hotspots, and areas of potential optimization.
- Storytelling: Sankey diagrams can be a powerful tool for storytelling, as they can convey complex information and relationships in a visually compelling way, making them more engaging for stakeholders.
- Scalability: Sankey charts can handle large amounts of data and can be easily updated with new information, allowing you to explore data at multiple levels of detail.
- Customizability: Sankey charts allow for customization of visual elements, such as colors, labels, and arrow shapes, making it easier to distinguish between different types of flows and enhance the overall readability and presentation of the chart.
Conclusion
Sankey charts are a highly effective tool for visualizing flows, connections, and the distribution of a quantity between sources and destinations. By following the steps outlined above, you can easily create your own Sankey diagrams using tools like Tableau, PowerBI, or Microsoft Excel.
Whether you’re analyzing energy consumption, financial flows, or healthcare data, Sankey charts can provide valuable insights and help you make better decisions based on the visual representation of your data.
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.
