Sankey charts are a visually stunning representation of complex flows or connections in a data set. They consist of rectangles, typically depicting sources, flows, and sinks, and directed arrows that show the direction and magnitude of the flow. Sankey charts can depict a variety of flows, including economic, material, energy, or data flows. In this article, we will explore the creation and applications of Sankey charts, as well as their unique ability to visually communicate complicated relationships.
Creating Sankey Charts
Sankey charts can be created using various software tools, such as D3.js, Matplotlib, and Plotly. A basic Sankey chart requires three components: source, target, and the flow between them. The source and target components are usually represented by rectangles at the beginning and end of the flow, respectively. The flow between sources and targets is visualized by directed arrows or lines, whose width is proportional to the magnitude of the flow.
Sankey charts can be created for a wide range of data types, including categorical, ordinal, and continuous data. To create a Sankey chart, it is first necessary to define the data fields that correspond to the source, target, and flow components. This can be achieved using the data cleaning and preprocessing functions available in data analysis software such as R or Python.
Applications of Sankey Charts
One of the primary applications of Sankey charts is for visualizing the flow of material, energy, or economic resources. For example, a renewable energy system, such as an electrical grid or a hydropower plant, may have inputs of wind or solar energy, transmission losses, and outputs of electricity to residential or commercial customers. A Sankey chart can be used to show the flow of energy through the system, including the inputs, internal processes, and outputs.
Sankey charts can also be used to visualize the flow of data, such as user interactions on a website or user behavior on social media platforms. For example, a Sankey chart can show the number of visitors to a website, the pages they visit, and the exit points.
In the field of urban planning, Sankey charts can be used to visualize the flow of traffic, such as pedestrian traffic, public transportation, and vehicular traffic. This can aid in identifying areas that are underutilized or high congestion, and guide the development of more efficient traffic flow solutions.
Finally, Sankey charts can be used to visualize the flow of information, such as the way ideas spread through society or how news and information circulate on social media. This can elucidate the underlying mechanisms and social forces behind the diffusion of information and ideas.
Conclusion
Sankey charts are a powerful visualization tool that can help us understand complex flows and relationships in data. They can be created with various software tools and applied to a wide range of data types, including material, energy, economic, and data flows. By using Sankey charts, we can gain new insights into the flows and relationships in our data, leading to more informed decision-making and better planning. Sankey charts are a must-have visualization tool for data analysts, urban planners, and researchers looking to gain a deeper understanding of the complex systems and flows that shape our world.
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