Sankey charts are a powerful and flexible tool for visualizing complex networks, particularly in the field of biology and economics. A Sankey chart is a type of network visualization that uses a series of “streamlines” to represent the direction and quantity of flow in a network. This can be used to easily understand the flow of information, goods, or energy in a network, and can help to reveal important trends and patterns.

How to create a Sankey chart
Once you have your network of interest, you can use a variety of software tools to create a Sankey chart. One popular option is the NetworkX library in Python, which includes functions for creating Sankey charts using the networkx.sirg.Sirg class. Alternatively, many graph visualization tools like Gephi, or even Excel’s charting tools can create Sankey charts. It’s also possible to create Sankey charts using specialized tools that specifically focus on network visualization, such as Sankey Charts by Vizualatee.

Applications of Sankey Charts
Sankey charts have many practical applications in various fields. In biology, for example, Sankey charts can help researchers understand the flow of information and communication between different cells, tissues or organisms. In economics, Sankey charts can help policymakers and analysts understand the flow of information, goods and resources between different regions, industries or sectors of the economy. In fields like medicine, Sankey charts can help researchers understand the flow of nutrients, proteins, hormones and other biological substances between different cells or tissues.

A recent study published in PLOS biology showed that Sankey charts can be used to compare the flow of drugs through the body, and help optimize treatments.

The Future of Sankey Charts
As network analysis becomes more prevalent in various fields based on the growth of large-scale networks and the complexity of them, it is likely that Sankey charts will continue to evolve and become more versatile. However, it is important to keep in mind that these maps cannot replace human analysis and need to be interpreted with a deep understanding of the data being explored.
In conclusion, Sankey charts are a powerful and versatile tool for visualizing complex networks. They can help us to understand the flow of information, goods, or resources in a network, and can reveal important trends and patterns. As network analysis becomes more prevalent in various fields, we can expect to see more sophisticated and versatile Sankey charts that can better support our analysis and interpretation.

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.