Do you find yourself lost in a never-ending stream of data that seems to go in countless directions? Maybe you try to decipher the complex relationships between different variables or sectors, but end up feeling like you’re missing something important. This is where a tool like a Sankey chart can come in handy.
Sankey charts are a type of flowchart that uses a series of boxes labeled with symbols (in this case, circles for flow, squares for nodes, and arrowheads for transitions, among others) to represent complex data flows on a network. They can be used to show flow directions, source and destination nodes, and the volume of different flows.
Creating a Sankey chart usually involves several steps, but the general process is the same no matter what application of the chart you’re using it in. Here’s how it works:
1. Gather the data you want to represent on the chart.
2. Assign symbols to each node and symbolize each circle or square with arrows based on the direction of the flow. For example, if you’re representing traffic flow between a city and suburbs, you may label a node representing the city with an arrow indicating traffic travels towards the suburbs.
3. Choose the appropriate symbols for the different types of flows on the chart, and decide what symbols will show up in each section of the chart.
4. Finally, draw the flowcharts using the chosen symbols and arrowheads to show the network of data flows.
Sankey charts are incredibly useful in visualizing complex data flows because they allow you to clearly identify the relationships between different nodes and flow arcs, no matter how intricate the data network. They also make it easier to communicate the data relationships to other stakeholders in your organization who use the information.
Sankey charts are widely used in fields like transportation engineering, ecology, public relations, and finance for both academic research and commercial use. They are commonly found in books, reports, and marketing pieces, all contributing to their widespread use in industry analysis and data visualization.
Sankey charts offer a variety of benefits, including visualizing data at a glance in a way that traditional charts like pie charts or bar charts don’t, making it easier to track trends, and identifying outliers in data flows.
However, it’s important to note that Sankey charts are not without their drawbacks. For example, they can’t effectively show the direction of data flow in a one-directional network, and they’re not ideal for showing parallel data flows. But, with some basic knowledge and practice, they can be used effectively to represent and analyze data, resulting in a more insightful and effective data visualization.
In conclusion, the Sankey chart is an exceptional tool for visual representation and understanding the complex data flows within our world, its applications range vast across diverse industries, for example in transportation engineering, ecology, and finance. With a proper understanding of the tools and practice of its operation, we can gain new insights on our world, which have never been possible before.
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.
