Sankey charts are a type of flow diagram that visually displays the movements of data or resources through a system. Originating in the 18th century, this type of chart has gained tremendous popularity in recent years, particularly with the rise of digital data visualization tools. In this article, we will delve into the world of Sankey charts – how they are created and their myriad applications.

Understanding Sankey Charts

Sankey diagrams are designed to represent the flow of material, information, or energy from one source to another. They typically feature a series of arrows that represent the flow, with the width of the arrows corresponding to the volume of the flow. This makes it easy to visually compare the sizes of different flows within the same system.

Key Components of a Sankey Diagram

1. Nodes: These represent the entry or exit points of the flow within the system. Typically, the diagram starts and ends with a node representing the total amount of data or resources before and after the flow.

2. Arrows (or Bands): These show the actual values of flow or transmission. They connect the nodes and indicate the direction and magnitude of flow between them.

3. Flow Bands: The width of the bands between nodes visually represents the volume of flow or data passing through that particular route.

How to Create a Sankey Chart

Data Preparation

For creating a Sankey diagram, you need to have a systematic understanding of the data. The flow data typically consists of three components:

• Source: The origin of each flow.
• Destination: The final destination of each flow.
• Value (or quantity): The magnitude of data flowing from source to destination.

Tools and Software

Several tools and platforms can help in creating Sankey charts:

• Tableau: A popular data visualization tool that offers a built-in Sankey chart creation feature.
• Power BI: Another robust platform providing a user-friendly interface for creating Sankey diagrams.
• R and Python: Programming languages with libraries (like plotly for Python) that allow manual creation of custom Sankey charts.

Creating the Chart

Here is a simple step-by-step process for creating a Sankey chart using Tableau:

1. Import Your Data: Upload your data to Tableau.
2. Drag and Drop: Drag the ‘Source’ field to the Source Shelf, the ‘Destination’ to the Destination Shelf, and the ‘Value’ to the Width Shelf.
3. Arrange and Format: Adjust the formatting to improve the clarity and aesthetics of the chart. You can change the color of the nodes and bands, adjust the orientation, and even add labels.
4. Review and Enhance: Look at the chart to make sure it tells your story effectively and makes it easy to understand the flow dynamics.

Applications of Sankey Charts

Business Analysis and Strategy

Sankey diagrams are invaluable in business for strategic planning, where they help visualize the flow of goods, services, or information. They can track customer journey patterns, business revenue flows, resource distribution, and more, allowing businesses to identify bottlenecks and optimize strategies.

Environmental and Sustainable Development

In environmental studies, Sankey diagrams are used to understand the flow of energy, materials, or pollutants through various systems. For example, they can depict the flow of energy in a power grid, waste materials in recycling processes, or the dispersion of nutrients in an ecosystem.

Healthcare and Epidemiology

In healthcare settings, Sankey diagrams can demonstrate patient pathways, medication flow, or the progression of diseases within populations. This can aid in the development of treatment strategies, public health interventions, and resource allocation.

Engineering and Technology

Engineering applications might involve visualizing data flows in complex systems such as fluid dynamics, heat transfer, or electrical circuits. Sankey diagrams can also be used in architectural planning for energy management and environmental impact assessments.

Supply Chain Management

For supply chain efficiency, Sankey charts can map out the flow of goods from suppliers to manufacturers to retailers, highlighting areas for optimization in delivery routes, inventories, and logistics.

Conclusion

Sankey charts provide a unique and visually engaging way to understand the complexities of data and resource flow within systems. Their ability to simplify such intricate processes makes them indispensable tools for analytics, research, and decision-making across various industries. Whether you are working on a business strategy, environmental study, or just looking for a more compelling way to present your data, Sankey charts offer a powerful means to transform your information into actionable insights.

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