Sankey charts are a powerful tool for visualizing flows and data. These charts help us understand the relationships between different elements in a system, making it easier to see patterns and trends that might otherwise be hidden. By unleashing the power of Sankey charts, we can gain valuable insights into the interconnectedness of various systems and make data-driven decisions.

In this article, we’ll explore how to create Sankey charts and the various applications where they can be applied to provide meaningful visual insights. We’ll also discuss some best practices to ensure your Sankey charts are both informative and visually appealing.

Creating Sankey Charts

Sankey charts are named after Scottish engineer Matthew Henry Phineas Riall Sankey, who developed the chart type in 1898 to show the energy loss in steam engines. The fundamental principle behind Sankey charts is the representation of flows or transitions between different elements in a system. This makes them particularly useful for visualizing complex relationships and data flows, such as energy consumption, transportation systems, or the flow of money.

Creating a Sankey chart involves several key steps:

1. Data Preparation: Gather your data and organize it into three main components: sources, targets, and flows. Sources represent the points where the flow originates, targets where the flow is directed, and flows the quantity or value associated with each transition.
2. Choose a Tool: While Sankey charts can be created using various tools, such as Tableau, Microsoft Power BI, or more specialized software like Graphviz, the choice depends on your specific requirements and your familiarity with the platform.
3. Mapping the Links: Once your data is ready, start mapping the sources, targets, and flows in your chosen tool. Typically, you will assign colors or thicknesses to the links based on the volume or other characteristics of the flow.
4. Customize and Design: Enhance your chart with labels, legends, and a meaningful layout. Experiment with different color schemes, arrow styles, and gridlines to ensure readability and visual appeal.
5. Analyze and Iterate: Examine the chart for insights and iterate based on feedback. Pay attention to how different elements and flows impact the overall system, and consider how adjusting certain parameters might affect the interpretation of the data.

Applications of Sankey Charts

Sankey charts are versatile and can be applied in various fields, including:

1. Energy and Resources: Visualize the flow of energy, such as electricity consumption, renewable energy production, or resource allocation in industrial processes. This can help identify inefficiencies and areas for improvement.
2. Transportation Systems: Map traffic patterns, passenger flow in public transportation systems (e.g., buses, trains), or network connectivity to optimize routes, schedules, and system capacity.
3. Finance and Business: Use Sankey charts to show the flow of monetary transactions, such as inflows and outflows in an organization’s financial reporting, or cash flow within a supply chain network.
4. Data Analytics: Analyze network structures or information flows, showing how data moves across different systems or between users in a complex digital environment.
5. Education: Visualize how students move between different educational programs, courses, or institutions to track student progress, satisfaction, and potential areas for improvement in educational systems.
6. Environmental Science: Explore the carbon footprint of various industries or regions, showing emissions sources and sinks to identify emission reduction opportunities and target interventions.

Best Practices for Effective Sankey Charts

To create compelling and informative Sankey charts, follow these best practices:

• Keep It Simple: Avoid overcomplicating your chart with too many data points or too many layers. Focus on the most significant flows that contribute to the overall insight you want to communicate.
• Maintain Logical Ordering: Arrange your chart in a logical and readable way, e.g., using a radial layout, to help viewers understand the flow direction and the sequence of nodes.
• Use Color Wisely: Employ color to distinguish unique patterns, highlight important flows, or show the magnitude of flows according to a meaningful scale. Ensure that the color palette is both attractive and accessible, considering accessibility standards for colorblind viewers.
• Label Clearly: Add labels for sources, targets, and flows to provide context and aid in the reading of your chart. Use descriptive labels that are easy to understand, avoiding overly technical jargon.
• Emphasize Key Insights: Use annotations, arrows, or bold elements to draw attention to significant findings or trends. This helps viewers to quickly identify the most impactful parts of the data.
• Iterate and Improve: Continuously refine your chart based on user feedback and new insights. This might involve tweaking the design, adding additional data dimensions, or changing the layout to better convey the intended story.

By following these guidelines and considering the specific requirements and goals of your data visualization, you can create effective and impactful Sankey charts that illuminate the rich relationships and patterns underlying complex systems.

Conclusion

Sankey charts are a powerful tool for uncovering hidden connections and trends within data. By leveraging the ability to visualize flows and transitions, these charts provide a comprehensive view of interconnected systems, making it easier to analyze and optimize various domains, from energy management to transportation logistics. Adopting a well-crafted Sankey chart in your data storytelling toolkit can bring valuable insights to a wide range of applications, ultimately enhancing decision-making processes and driving better outcomes across multiple industries.

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.