Sankey charts are a type of flow diagram that visually represent the distribution and flow of quantities between different entities. They are commonly used to show the movement of materials, energy, or data within a system. In this article, we’ll explore the basics of creating and applying sankey charts in various fields, unleashing their potential for data visualization.

What Are Sankey Charts?

Sankey diagrams, named after their creator, the Scottish engineer and physicist Matthew Holyoake Holyoake (also known as Sankey), are a specialized type of flow diagram. In a sankey diagram, quantities are represented as flowing through the diagram, with the thickness of the flow lines indicating the magnitude of the flow. Nodes, or circles, represent entities, such as sources, destinations, or stages in a process, and are connected by flow lines known as edges.

Creating Sankey Charts

1. Data Preparation

• Start with a dataset that includes at least three columns; the first and second columns represent the source and destination of the flow, while the third column typically indicates the flow’s magnitude (e.g., amount, energy transfer, etc.).
• Ensure the data is clean, without duplicates or irrelevant entries, as these can distort the chart and reduce its effectiveness.

2. Choosing the Right Tool

• Excel: For basic sankey diagrams, Excel’s Power Query and Power Pivot features can be used to create simple charts.
• Tableau: Offers robust support for sankey diagrams, with advanced filtering and dynamic visualization capabilities.
• D3.js: For developers who want to create custom, interactive sankey diagrams. D3 allows complete customization but requires proficiency in JavaScript.
• Tools like Sankey.js or Sankey Diagram Generator: These are web-based tools that can be useful for creating more complex diagrams without the need for coding.

3. Designing the Chart

• Layout: Arrange nodes based on categories or flow categories to maintain clarity.
• Magnitude Representation: The width of the arrows should correspond to the flow magnitude to accurately represent the data.
• Color Scheme: Use color to differentiate between different flows or to highlight specific paths.
• Labels: Ensure that labels are clear and not overlapping. This helps in maintaining readability and comprehension of the diagram.

Applications of Sankey Charts

Energy Systems

• In renewable energy projects, sankey charts can clearly show the flow of energy from sources like solar panels, wind turbines, and energy storage systems to grid distribution and consumer usage, highlighting efficiency and energy losses.

Materials Flow Analysis

• In industrial sectors, sankey diagrams can track how materials move through a production cycle, identifying bottlenecks, waste streams, and areas for recycling.

Data Flow Analysis

• In computing and network systems, sankey charts can illustrate the flow of data between different components or systems, showing traffic patterns and potential bottlenecks.

Supply Chain Management

• Businesses can use sankey diagrams to visualize the transportation network, depicting the movement of goods from suppliers to manufacturers and retailers to consumers.

Healthcare

• In healthcare data analysis, sankey diagrams can show the flow of patients through different stages of care or the movement of specific indicators (like medication usage) across different patient populations.

Conclusion

Sankey charts are a powerful visualization tool that enables a deep understanding of complex flow processes. By using these charts, professionals can uncover insights, optimize systems, and communicate findings effectively. Whether you’re working in energy, manufacturing, logistics, or other industries, sankey charts offer a clear, intuitive way to visualize flow dynamics. By carefully selecting your data, tools, and design elements, you can unleash the full potential of sankey charts to enhance your data insights and decision-making processes.

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