Sankey chart is a powerful tool for visualizing flow-related data, such as the flow of money, materials, information, and labor. It creates a detailed view of how these flows interact and change over time. This article will explore the fundamentals of Sankey charts, their applications, and practical examples.
A Sankey chart is a data visualization tool that uses a network of vertical lines connected to a central node (source or destination) to represent flow direction. The vertical lines represent the amount of flow, and the source or destination is indicated by a circle. Additionally, the bars represent the flow amount in each bar area, and the line connecting the bars is used to represent flow direction.
Sankey charts are used in many different fields, including economics, transportation, public sanitation, and information management. They can also be used to visualize complex flow relationships in other industries, such as oil and gas.
If you have observed flow data such as the flow of money in a company, oil production, recycling of resources, etc., then a Sankey chart can help you understand and visualize these flow relationships. By comparing the sources with the destinations, you can identify which groups or organizations are consuming more and which are producing more. This insight can help in developing strategies to optimize these flow patterns.
In simple terms, a Sankey chart visualizes two sets of data: the amounts of flow from the source node to the target node and the direction of flow. To create a Sankey chart, you need to gather data for the flow of objects, like the flow of materials in a factory, the flow of money in a bank, and the flow of information in a company.
The direction of flow can be determined by the position of the source or destination node or by the direction in which the data flows. In Sankey charts, the flow direction is determined by the direction in which the edges are connected.
Creating a Sankey chart involves some basic steps:
- Collect and organize the data
- Choose the source and destination nodes
- Construct the flow direction through a simple visualization like a flow map
- Connect the bars to represent the flow amounts
- Create a direction line to display the flow of the data
In practical applications, a Sankey chart can be used to visualize the flow of various types of flows such as:
- The flow of materials in a factory, such as the flow of metal or plastic
- The flow of money in a bank, such as the flow of deposits or withdrawals
- The flow of information in a company, such as the flow of emails or phone calls
- The flow of resources in the recycling of materials
The flow visualization in a Sankey chart is very useful for a range of applications. Sankey charts can help in understanding complex data, comparing different data sets, and identifying the sources of flow of resources and information within a given network. It is a simple yet elegant tool that can help users make better decisions by visualizing complex data in an intuitive and easy-to-read manner.
Sankey charts are simple yet powerful data visualization tools. They are a great choice for businesses and organizations that need to understand the flow of data, resources, and information in their systems. By using Sankey charts, you can create a comprehensive view of the flow of resources across various channels and time periods, which will enable you to identify opportunities to optimize flow and enhance operations.
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