Visualizing complex systems is an essential skill for anyone working in science, engineering, or business. However, one of the key challenges to creating effective flow diagrams is choosing the right type of chart. A Sankey chart is a type of flow diagram that is particularly useful for visualizing complex systems, as it is easy to read and understand. In this article, we’ll explore the basics of Sankey charts, their applications, and how to create one from scratch.
What is a Sankey Chart?
A Sankey chart is a type of flow diagram that uses a series of bars to visualize the movement of resources or data through a system. The bars can be colored to represent different types of resources or data, and the number of bars in each row can vary. Sankey charts are particularly useful when working with hierarchical or nested systems, as the movement through each level can be shown clearly.
Sankey charts can be used to visualize a wide range of complex systems, from biological processes such as blood flow through arteries and veins, to mechanical systems such as the flow of water through a pipeline. They are also used in finance, where they can be used to visualize the flow of capital and investments, and in education, where they can be used to visualize the flow of information through a class.
Creating a Sankey Chart
Creating a Sankey chart is relatively simple, and here’s how you can do it:
1. First, select the data you want to visualize. You can either input the data directly into the chart, or import it from a file.
2. Next, create the bars of the chart. Each bar represents one type of resource or data. In Sankey charts, the number of bars in each row represents the level of the hierarchy or hierarchy nesting.
3. Then, label each bar to indicate the type of resource or data flow, and any changes that have occurred in the flow.
4. To create the flow direction, you can use arrows to indicate the direction of the flow.
5. Finally, add any additional information to the chart, such as labels or legends.
Sankey charts are a powerful tool for visualizing complex systems, especially when the data is hierarchical or nested. They can help to highlight the flow of resources or data through a system, and make the system easier to understand and interpret. While Sankey charts can be a little more complex to create than other chart types, the benefits of using them as opposed to other types of flow diagrams make them well worth the effort to create.

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.