Sankey diagrams or charts, named after their inventor, Captain Matthew Henry Phineas Riall Sankey, have become a popular tool for visualizing complex flows and networks. Originally used to illustrate the efficiency of industrial plants, these diagrams are now used in a wide range of applications, from energy systems to urban planning, to help us better understand and manage flows of materials, energy, or resources.

Understanding Sankey Charts

Sankey charts represent flows as arrows with the width of the arrow representing the magnitude of the flow. Nodes or blocks are used to represent the sources, destinations, and transformations of these flows. To create a Sankey chart, you must first have a dataset that includes:

1. Nodes: These are the categories or categories that have an inflow and outflow.
2. Links: These represent the flow between nodes, including the quantity of the flow.
3. Colors: Often used to distinguish between different types of flows or to highlight certain flows.

The data structure typically used is a table or matrix where each row and column represents a node, and the values in the table represent the flow between those nodes.

Creating Sankey Charts

There are several tools and software programs available for creating and editing Sankey charts, ranging from simple spreadsheet formats to more advanced specialized tools. Here are key steps:

1. Data Preparation: Import your data into your chosen tool. Ensure your data includes a clear source, destination, and the quantity of the flow between pairs of nodes.
2. Design Layout: Use the layout tools to organize the nodes and arrows, maintaining a smooth flow from the source to the destination. Try to keep the overall chart balanced and ensure clarity.
3. Styling: Adjust the colors, widths, and labels to enhance readability and highlight important aspects of the data. Color coding can help differentiate between various types of flows or categories.
4. Review and Adjust: Double-check the correctness of the data, orientation of the nodes, and the clarity of the chart. Adjustments might be needed to optimize the visual flow and balance of the chart.
5. Export: Once satisfied, export the chart in a format suitable for your needs, such as PNG, PDF, or SVG for high-quality images, or embed it directly into your reports or presentations.

Applications of Sankey Charts

Sankey charts find applications across numerous fields, including but not limited to:

• Energy Systems: Visualizing energy production, consumption, and transmission in power grids.
• Supply Chains: Analyzing trade flows between countries or internal company processes.
• Environmental Science: Tracking the sources and sinks of greenhouse gases, pollutants, or waste.
• Urban Planning: Mapping traffic flows, sewage systems, or public transportation usage.
• Healthcare: Illustrating the pathways of pathogens or the flow of patients through a hospital.

Benefits of Using Sankey Charts

• Clarity and Simplicity: Sankey charts clearly show complex relationships in flows, making it easier to understand and compare different pathways or distributions.
• Quick Insights: Immediately highlight the most significant sources of flow or the largest losses in systems, aiding swift decision-making.
• Efficiency in Data Analysis: Enables quick identification of bottlenecks, losses, or efficiency gains, aiding in optimization and improvement strategies.
• Communication and Engagement: Sankey diagrams are visually appealing and easy to understand, making them an excellent tool for engaging stakeholders and policymakers.

Conclusion

Sankey charts are a powerful tool for unraveling the complexity of flows in various systems. Their ability to simplify and visualize intricate data makes them indispensable in analyzing processes across multiple disciplines. By mastering the creation and application of Sankey diagrams, professionals can gain valuable insights, enhance decision-making, and facilitate effective communication of complex information.

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.