Sankey charts are a type of flow diagram that visually represents the movement of quantities through a system. They are named after Captain Matthew Henry Phineas Riall Sankey, who used them to show the energy consumption of the Clyde Steamship Company in the 1800s. Sankey charts are a powerful tool for visualizing the flow of data or materials, and they can be used to uncover patterns and connections that would otherwise be difficult to see.
Creating a Sankey Chart
To create a Sankey chart, you will need to collect data that represents the flow of a quantity through a system. This data should include information about the source and destination of the flow, as well as the amount of the quantity moving between each point. Once you have this data, you can use software such as Microsoft Excel, Tableau, or Power BI to create a Sankey chart.
Microsoft Excel offers a built-in Sankey chart template that you can use to quickly create a basic chart. To use this template, you will need to have your data in a table format with the source and destination columns clearly labeled. You can then select the Sankey chart type from the chart insertion options and follow the prompts to customize the chart appearance.
For those using Tableau or Power BI, these tools offer more advanced Sankey chart creation capabilities. You can use these tools to connect and manipulate your data, create conditional formatting rules, and add interactive elements such as tooltips and filters. This allows you to create highly customizable and dynamic Sankey charts that can be used for a wide range of applications.
Sankey chart applications
Sankey charts can be used in a variety of applications to visualize the flow of data or materials. Some common use cases include:
Business analytics: Sankey charts can help businesses to understand the flow of revenue, customer traffic, or supply chain data. This can help businesses to identify areas for improvement, optimize processes, and make data-driven decisions.
Energy distribution: Sankey charts can be used to visualize the flow of energy through power grids, pipelines, or fuel systems. This can help energy companies to identify inefficiencies, optimize energy usage, and plan for future capacity needs.
Environmental science: Sankey charts can be used to visualize the flow of resources, such as water or air, through complex ecosystem systems. This can help scientists to understand the impact of human activities on the environment and identify strategies for sustainable resource management.
Healthcare: Sankey charts can be used to visualize the flow of patients through a hospital or healthcare system. This can help healthcare professionals to identify bottlenecks in the system, optimize patient flows, and improve the overall efficiency of the healthcare system.
Conclusion
Sankey charts are a powerful tool for visualizing the flow of data or materials through a system. With the ability to customize and manipulate data in powerful software such as Tableau or Power BI, Sankey charts can be used to uncover patterns and connections that would be difficult to see. Whether you are analyzing business data, optimizing resource usage, or planning for sustainable resource management, Sankey charts can help you to make better decisions and achieve your goals.
In summary, Sankey charts provide a unique way to visualize complex flows and connections. By taking advantage of the flexibility and power of the software, you can create customized Sankey charts that reveal the patterns and connections in your data. Whether you are analyzing business data, optimizing resource usage, or planning for sustainable resource management, Sankey charts provide a powerful tool for uncovering insights that would otherwise be hidden.

SankeyMaster

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