Sankey charts are a powerful and creative way to visualize flows of quantities, using arrows or lines whose thickness represents the magnitude of the flow. These charts can depict a variety of phenomena, from material transformations and energy transfers, to financial transactions and data streams in a network. In this article, we will discuss the creation and applications of Sankey charts, highlighting their ability to enhance the clarity and style of data visualization.

Understanding Sankey Charts

Sankey diagrams were named after Captain Matthew Henry Phineas Riall Sankey, who patented his energy flow diagram (now known as the Sankey diagram) for a steam engine in 1898. These diagrams originated to explain efficiency in machine operations but are now widely used across various domains. What initially made Sankey diagrams unique was the width of the lines, which visually depicted the volume of energy or material flow through the system.

Creation of Sankey Charts

Creating a Sankey chart involves several steps:

1. Data Collection: Gather the data on all flows you want to represent, including sources and destinations, along with the quantities.

2. Layout Planning: Arrange the sources, destinations, and steps in a way that optimizes the chart’s readability. Common layouts include vertical, horizontal, or radial arrangements.

3. Data Normalization: Normalize the data if necessary so that each connection’s thickness accurately represents the flow quantity relative to the total.

4. Tool Selection: Choose a tool for creating the chart. Popular options include:

   • Microsoft Excel: Useful for basic Sankey charts with a limited number of flows.
   • D3.js: JavaScript library that offers more flexibility and control over complex visualizations.
   • R and Python Libraries: Such as ggraph and networkD3 for R users, and SankeyCharts for Python, can provide a wide range of customization options.
   • Canva, SmartDraw, and Zenchart: These are user-friendly tools that cater to those without extensive coding knowledge.

5. Creating the Chart: Use the selected tool to create the chart, adding nodes (sources and destinations), and links with corresponding values.

6. Customizing the Appearance: Adjust colors, thicknesses, and labels to enhance clarity and aesthetic appeal. Tools often offer customization options for these elements.

Applications of Sankey Charts

Sankey charts can be applied in various fields including:

1. Energy Analysis: They are used to visualize energy flows from sources to end-users, helping in identifying energy loss along the way.

2. Economic Analysis: In macroeconomics, Sankey diagrams can illustrate the flow of goods, services, and money between sectors of an economy.

3. Environmental Studies: They are useful in demonstrating biogeochemical cycles like the carbon and nitrogen cycles, or water usage between different sectors.

4. Data Systems and Network Analysis: In computer science, they are used to depict data flow between different nodes or systems, aiding in optimizing data processing pipelines.

5. Supply Chain Management: To visualize the flow of goods through a supply chain, identifying bottlenecks and inefficiencies.

6. Finance: They can be used to show investment flows, financial transactions, or even heatmaps of transaction volumes between different financial institutions.

Benefits

Sankey charts offer several benefits in terms of data visualization:
– Clarity: The visual depiction helps in understanding complex flows more intuitively.
– Emphasis on Quantities: The thickness of the links allows for easily identifiable quantities, enhancing comprehension.
– Aesthetic Appeal: With customization options, Sankey diagrams can be made engaging and visually appealing.
– Flexibility: They can be adapted to various scales and complexities, making them useful for both simple and intricate data sets.

Conclusion

Sankey charts hold great power in visualizing data flows, providing a clear, stylish, and intuitive means of understanding complex systems. With the right tools and customization, these charts can significantly enhance the comprehension of data for both specialists and the general audience. Whether in the exploration of energy systems, the analysis of economic flows, or the optimization of data networks, Sankey charts offer a visually compelling and narratively rich way to communicate information effectively.

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.