Sankey charts are a powerful tool for visualizing data flows and presenting complex systems in an intuitive way. This type of chart is named after its inventor, Scottish inventor Robert Sankey, who developed a method for visualizing energy usage in his factory. In this article, we’ll explore what Sankey charts are, how they’re created, and some of the many applications they’re used for in various fields, including business, engineering, and social sciences.

When to Use a Sankey Chart

Sankey diagrams are particularly useful for visualizing:

1. Flows within and between interconnected systems: This includes data flows in information systems, energy consumption pathways, and material flows in manufacturing.
2. Comparative analysis: To compare multiple datasets, like costs or volumes, for similar sources and destinations.
3. Hierarchical structures: Showing how entities are related in terms of contributions, resources, or dependencies.

How to Create a Sankey Chart

Creating a Sankey chart typically involves these steps:

1. Identify your flow categories: Determine what flows are relevant to your dataset—sources, destinations, and the quantities transferred between them.

2. Map the flow data: Using data visualization software such as Tableau, Microsoft Power BI, or online tools like Google Charts and Plotly, input the categories and data about the flows. Ensure the data is organized in a format that the tool can read, such as a CSV file or a data table within the visualization tool.

3. Design the visuals: Within your chosen tool, you’ll plot the data flows. The width of each arrow (or “bend”) represents the magnitude of the flow between two points. You can further customize these visuals with colors and annotations as needed.

4. Review and refine: Look through the created visualization to ensure that it clearly presents the data flows as intended. Make adjustments to labels, color schemes, and layout until the chart is visually appealing and informative.

Applications of Sankey Charts

Sankey diagrams find application across various fields:

1. Business Metrics and Finance

In business analytics, Sankey charts can illustrate the flow of funds, revenues, or profit margins, showing the contributions of different sources to the final output.

2. Engineering and Sustainability

In environmental science, they help visualize energy consumption pathways, such as electricity use across a network or materials used in a manufacturing process. This aids in identifying inefficiencies and opportunities for optimization.

3. Network Analysis

Within social sciences, these diagrams can be used to map out information or influence flows between people, organizations, or countries, revealing patterns of interaction in social networks.

4. Health Systems Analysis

In healthcare, Sankey charts help visualize the flow of patients through different stages of care, such as patient journey maps, disease progression, or therapy outcomes, aiding in improvement efforts and resource allocation.

5. Information Security and Data Privacy

Within IT security, they can illustrate how sensitive data is handled, showing the routes data must take and potential vulnerabilities along the way.

Benefits and Considerations

Benefits:

• Visual Understanding: Sankey charts provide a comprehensive visual summary of complex data, making it easier to grasp the flow dynamics and patterns.
• Comparison and Analysis: They enable side-by-side comparisons, highlighting differences and similarities across multiple datasets.
• Audience Accessibility: They are favored for their clarity and appeal to a wide audience, simplifying the understanding of complex data to stakeholders without a technical background.

Considerations:

• Data Volume: Large datasets can lead to cluttered diagrams, making it hard to distinguish between individual flows.
• Clarity and Depth: While they are excellent for presenting a broad overview, they may not be as effective for detailed, granular analysis.
• Tools Choice: Selecting the right visualization tool can impact the quality, interactivity, and aesthetic appeal of the chart.

Sankey charts offer a unique and powerful way to explore and communicate data flows, providing insights across numerous fields. By leveraging the right tools and design principles, these charts can be tailored to enhance understanding, facilitate decision-making, and support various analytical needs.

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.