Sankey charts are a type of flow visualization that allow users to see how quantities move between different categories or nodes. They are named after the 19th-century engineer Matthew Henry Phineas Riall Sankey, who used the charts to illustrate the energy and material flow of coal plants. In this article, we will delve into the creation and applications of Sankey charts, highlighting their style and substance in presenting complex data.

Creation of Sankey Charts

Creating a Sankey chart requires defining the categories or nodes that you want to represent, as well as the flows between them. Each flow should have a distinct value associated with its length, color, and width, which visually emphasizes the magnitude of the flows. This visualization style makes it easy to identify patterns and trends in the data, such as dominant flows or bottlenecks.

While it would be useful to create this type of chart with the help of software tools, you could also build it from scratch using tools such as Python or Excel. For instance, you can input the source (dashed or filled diamond-shaped node), target (filled diamond-shaped node), and flux (the width, color, and length of the arrow-like connection) of each flow into a spreadsheet or a programming environment.

Applications of Sankey Charts

Sankey charts are widely used in various domains, including energy systems, material flows, supply chains, information technology, and economics, to name a few. Here are some applications of Sankey charts:

1. Energy and material flows: In the energy industry, Sankey charts are used to represent the movement of energy resources, such as coal, oil, and natural gas, between different stages of a system or across countries. Similarly, in material flow analysis, these charts can provide insights into resource usage, waste generation, and recycling.

2. Supply chains: Sankey charts help visualize the flow of goods, services, and materials in a supply chain, showing the origin, transportation, and destination of each item. They also allow analysts to assess inefficiencies, optimize routes, and understand the environmental impacts of supply chain operations.

3. Information technology: Sankey charts are employed to depict the flow of data, information, and computing resources within IT systems. They can help managers identify high-traffic areas, monitor network usage, optimize resource allocation, and improve system performance.

4. Economic activities: These charts provide valuable insights into the trade relationships between countries, sectors, or industries. Sankey diagrams can illustrate the movement of goods, capital, and labor across borders, helping policymakers and businesses understand global economic dynamics.

5. Water management and sustainability: Sankey charts can demonstrate the allocation of water resources, emphasizing the use of groundwater, surface water, and recycled water in various sectors such as agriculture, industries, and urban use. They can also show the potential for water savings and efficiency improvements.

Incorporating Style and Substance

When using Sankey charts, it’s essential to focus on both their style and substance to ensure that the chart effectively communicates the information it represents. These key elements contribute to creating compelling and intuitive visualizations:

1. Clarity: Keep the chart uncluttered, clearly label nodes and flows, and use consistent color schemes and font styles to maintain readability. Avoid excessive data or too many colors, which can make the chart overwhelming and difficult to understand.

2. Color and Symbolism: Choose colors that convey meaning, and use them consistently to distinguish between categories. Make use of symbolism such as arrows, lines, and shapes to visually represent the data effectively. Ensure that color blindness-friendly color schemes are employed so that everyone can interpret the chart correctly.

3. Proportion: Scale the flows visually according to their magnitude, ensuring that the chart effectively communicates the relative importance of flows. This aspect of proportionality can be achieved by adjusting the width of the connecting lines, which visually demonstrates the volume of each flow.

4. Storytelling: A well-designed Sankey chart should help guide the viewer through a clear narrative, emphasizing important insights and trends within the data. Provide context and annotations that explain the meaning behind the depicted flows, making the chart more accessible to a general audience.

5. Flexibility: Customize your chart based on the audience, medium, and purpose of the visualization. Consider the type of story you want to tell and adjust the chart’s layout, formatting, and interactivity to suit the presentation format, whether it’s an online dashboard, printed report, or interactive presentation.

In conclusion, Sankey charts, with their style and substance, offer a powerful tool for visualizing the intricate relationships between different categories or nodes. By focusing on clarity, color symbolism, proportion, storytelling, and flexibility, you can create stunning, comprehensible charts that effectively communicate vital information and help foster a deeper understanding of complex data flows.

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.