Sankey charts are a powerful way to visualize flows of energy, data, and anything that flows between different sources and destinations. Named after their inventor, the British engineer William Sankey, these charts combine elements of flow diagrams and heat maps to provide a clear and visually engaging way of understanding a system.
What are Sankey Charts?
Sankey charts are a type of flow chart that display a quantity – such as energy, data, or material – passing through a system. Each arrow or ‘link’ in a Sankey diagram represents an exchange of the quantity, typically showing how much flows from one location to another. The width of each link is proportional to the flow rate. This visual emphasis makes it easy to see which connections carry the most volume.
Creating Sankey Charts
1. Gather Data: Collect data on the flows between different entities. This could be energy consumption data, website traffic analytics, or any type of flow.
2. Define Sources and Sinks: In a Sankey diagram, sources are where flow begins (typically showing where data originates or energy is supplied). Sinks are where flow ends (indicating where data is used or energy is consumed). The connections in between represent intermediate exchanges.
3. Choose a Tool: There are multiple tools available for creating Sankey charts, both free and paid. Tools like Sankeyviz, GanttProject, or online platforms like Google Charts, Tableau, or even Python libraries such as Sankey from the matplotlib library, can be used.
4. Layout and Sizing:
- Start the Layout: Arrange your data in a way that all sources are on one side, sinks on the other, and connections spread out in between.
- Adjust Link Widths: The width of each link should represent the volume of flow through it. This can be calculated from the data or manually adjusted to ensure clarity and correct scale.
- Optimize for Readability: Ensure the layout allows for easy tracing of flows and avoids clutter. This often involves some trial and error to get the balance right between detail and clarity.
5. Customize and Polish: Add colors and labels to enhance readability and make the chart stand out. Titles and descriptions can help contextualize the data.
Applications of Sankey Charts
1. Energy Systems:
- Electricity Flows: Visualize electrical power generation and consumption, showing how energy moves through a network from power plants to consumers.
- Renewables Integration: Understand the flow of energy from various renewable sources to the grid.
2. Data Analytics:
- Web Traffic: Analyze user navigation on websites, showing where traffic flows from sources to destinations.
- Traffic Patterns: Illustrate user journey paths in complex systems.
3. Material and Resource Flows:
- Economic Goods: Map the production and consumption of materials across different sectors.
- Supply Chain: Trace how goods move through the supply chain, identifying bottlenecks or optimizing efficiencies.
4. Information Overload:
- Business Insights: Use Sankey diagrams to analyze customer journeys, identifying which steps in a purchasing funnel have the highest or lowest conversion rates.
- Social Media Content: Explore the spread and engagement of content on platforms.
Conclusion
Sankey charts are an essential tool for anyone seeking to understand complex systems involving flows. Whether you are a data analyst, system engineer, or decision-maker in need of actionable insights, leveraging Sankey charts can provide a clear, visual narrative that simplifies complex data into digestible insights. By carefully designing each chart with your specific data and audience in mind, you can unlock deeper understanding and derive valuable conclusions from your data flows.
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SankeyMaster
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