Sankey charts are a powerful and visually stunning way to represent flows between entities using arrows that are proportional to the flow value. A Sankey diagram is a type of flow diagram that shows the flow between groups either sequentially or simultaneously, with the capacity to reveal patterns or relationships that might otherwise be missed in raw data. In this article, we’ll explore how to create attractive Sankey charts and the various applications of Sankey charts in different fields.
Creating a Sankey Chart: The Basics
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Collecting Data: Start by gathering the data that you want to represent. Your dataset should include information on flows between sources and targets. Depending on the complexity of your chart, this might involve multiple dimensions such as volume, time, categories, and so on.
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Choosing a Tool: Select a tool or software to create your Sankey chart. Common choices include Tableau, Microsoft PowerBI, QlikView, R (using packages like ‘igraph’ or ‘diagram’), Python (with libraries like Matplotlib, Seaborn, or Plotly), and SVG-based tools.
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Mapping Nodes and Links: Identify the nodes in your system, which are the entities that exchange data, resources, or money. Assign unique identifiers and descriptions to each node. Then, map out the links representing the flow between these nodes, specifying their source node, target node, and the value of the flow.
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Using Colors: Colors serve dual purposes in Sankey diagrams – they enhance visual appeal and also carry information about various aspects. Use color-coding to differentiate nodes, flows, or to highlight specific groups or phases.
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Layout and Aesthetics: Pay attention to the layout of the chart to ensure readability and visual impact. Common layouts include sequential (from left to right or top to bottom), radial, or 3D. Adjust padding, scaling, and animation effects to optimize the visual experience.
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Adding Legends and Annotations: Provide a clear legend if your chart uses color-coding or other visual cues to differentiate elements. Annotations can help guide the viewer through key points, especially in complex diagrams.
Applications of Sankey Charts
Sankey charts are incredibly versatile and can be used in a plethora of applications across various industries:
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Supply Chain Management: Visualize the flow of goods from suppliers to manufacturers, then to retailers, and finally to consumers, highlighting bottlenecks or areas where efficiency can be improved.
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Energy and Resource Flows: Use Sankey diagrams to show the conversion, distribution, or consumption of energy (electricity, oil, gas) or other resources in industries and households.
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Economic and Financial Flows: Represent economic transactions, financial flows within an organization, or the flow of money in complex financial systems.
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Environmental Impact Studies: Diagram the flow of materials, waste, or energy through different processes or ecosystems to analyze sustainability or pollution levels.
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Data Science and Analytics: Use in data flows within algorithms, visualizing data processing pipelines, or data lineage in ETL processes.
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Healthcare: Show the flow of patients through different stages of treatment, patient diagnoses, or the use of medical resources within a healthcare system.
Advantages of Sankey Charts
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Comprehensive Visualization: Sankey charts provide a holistic view of complex flows, making it easier to identify patterns, trends, and relationships that might be obscured in tabular or point-based data presentation.
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Dynamic and Engaging: The flow nature of Sankey charts makes the data dynamic and engaging, which can improve understanding and retention among viewers.
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Ease of Comparison: With easy customization of color, size, and other attributes, sankey charts can be compared across different time periods, datasets, or scenarios, providing insights into changes or improvements.
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Minimalistic yet Detailed: They manage to convey intricate details and data comprehensively while maintaining a sleek and aesthetically pleasing design.
In conclusion, Sankey charts are a valuable tool in the arsenal of modern data visualization, offering unparalleled insights into complex systems and processes. Their versatility and ability to present data in an engaging and intuitive manner make them indispensable in numerous applications across various fields. With the right tools and a bit of creativity, anyone can create impactful Sankey diagrams that not only enhance understanding but also facilitate better decision-making and communication.
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.
