Sankey charts are a powerful tool for data visualization that can help you understand complex data relationships and flows. They are especially useful when you have multiple flow sources and sinks. In this article, we’ll discuss how to make a Sankey chart, the different types of this chart and its applications, as well as how to use it to unlock the power of data visualization.

Creating a Sankey chart
Sankey charts can be created using a variety of software such as Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets. Here are the basic steps to create a Sankey chart:

1. Open the Sankey chart template in Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets.
2. In the first row, create two columns to represent the flow sources and sinks. In the first column, put the source names. In the second column, put the sink names.
3. In the second row, put the data points representing the flow. You can put data points for the volume of flow or for the net change in flow.
4. In the third row, create two columns that correspond to the flow sources and sinks. Use these columns to represent the magnitude of the flow.
5. From the second row, click on one of the data points to drag it down. This will make a row and a column appear. Then, right-click and select “Append” as the data type.
6. On the right side of the template, click “Add a link” and type the start and end point of the flow line in the new column.
7. Once your Sankey chart has been built, you can customize it by changing the color of the lines, adding labels or annotations, and adding interactive features such as tooltips.

Types of Sankey chart
There are many different types of Sankey charts, but here are some of the most common ones:

1. Source and Sink: A source is a starting point of a flow. A sink is a final point of the flow.

2. Volume: In this type of Sankey chart, you can represent the volume of a flow.

3. Net Change: This chart shows the net change in a flow, which is the difference between the volume of flow in and out of a region.

4. Total Flow: This chart shows the total amount of flow entering a region.

5. Direction: This chart shows the direction of the flow, with the direction of the flow represented by arrows.

Sankey chart applications
Sankey charts are useful for many different applications, such as:

1. Understanding the flow of resources in a project or a government agency.

2. Representing the movement of data or information through a network.

3. Monitoring the allocation of resources such as funds or personnel.

4. Tracking the impact of a policy or action.

5. Understanding the cause-and-effect relationship between two variables.

Using Sankey charts to unlock the power of data visualization
Sankey charts can be a powerful tool for unlocking the power of data visualization. By using them to visualize complex data relationships and flows, you can better understand the cause-and-effect relationship between two variables, or track the impact of a policy or action. You can also use them to explore different scenarios and visualize potential outcomes. Additionally, they can help you make data-driven decisions by comparing different scenarios and identifying the most effective course of action.

SankeyMaster

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