Understanding flow diagrams, also known as Sankey charts, is crucial for anyone interested in data visualization and analysis. These visual representations can help us explore and understand the relationships between different data elements, such as energy flow, resource allocation, or economic flows.
Let’s dive deeper into the world of Sankey charts and explore some of their applications in data visualization.
What are Sankey charts?
Sankey charts are a type of flow diagram that shows how resources or elements flow through a network. It is commonly used to represent relationships between two sets of data, such as flows of energy, resources, or economic flows.
There are several components that make up a traditional Sankey chart:
• Source
• Sink
• Connections
• Flow
The source is the starting point where the flow begins. It is the original data set or energy source. The sink is the end point, where the flow ends or is consumed. It is the final data set or energy destination.
• Connections between the source and the sink
• Flow
Flow represents the amount of data or energy that flows through the connections between the source and sink.
• Labeling
Labels provide information about the source, sink, and flow, such as the units of measurement and values.
Now, let’s see how to create a Sankey chart.
Creating a Sankey Chart
There are several open-source software tools and online platforms that can be used to create Sankey charts. Here are a few options:
• Geopold – A free online platform for creating Sankey charts.
• SankeyChart – A free online platform for creating Sankey charts.
• Sankey Charts Maker – A free and open-source software tool for creating Sankey charts.
• Xfig – A powerful open-source software application that can be used to create Sankey charts.
Here are the steps you can follow to create a Sankey chart:
1. Choose a data set or data source to visualize.
2. Select the two sets of data that you want to represent.
3. Visualize the source and sink as a flow.
4. Connect the source and sink with lines or arrows, and label the connections.
5. Customize the chart by adding custom labels, colors, and other visual elements.
Applications of Sankey charts
Sankey charts can be used in many fields and industries, including:
• Economics – to analyze economic flows, such as import and export, capital flows, and economic cycles.
• Environmental management – to visualize and analyze environmental flows, such as water flow, air flow, and chemical flow.
• Energy management – to visualize and analyze energy flows, such as energy generation, energy consumption, and energy distribution.
• Logistics and transport management – to visualize and analyze supply chain flows, such as material flow, information flow, and process flows.
• Health care management – to visualize and analyze health care flows, such as patient flow, medical supplies flow, and hospital flow.
Conclusion
Sankey charts are a versatile tool for exploring and understanding relationships between different data elements, such as energy flow, natural resource allocation, or economic flows. With a bit of creativity and experience, you can create stunning and informative Sankey charts that can help you make informed decisions and insights in your field or industry.

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.