Sankey diagrams, commonly known as Sankey charts or flow charts, are a powerful visual representation tool that helps us understand and analyze data flow and relationships. These elegant diagrams, named after Frank Sankey, an American engineer, have found ample applications in various fields, from business to science, and beyond. In this article, we will delve into the world of Sankey charts, discussing their creation and exploring the fascinating applications they serve.
Understanding the Basics
A Sankey chart is a type of network diagram that visually portrays the movement or transformation of entities or quantities over time. It consists of interconnected nodes, representing sources, intermediaries, and sinks, connected by straight, sloping connections, or “threads,” which represent the flow. The width of these threads is proportional to the magnitude of the flow, making it an intuitive way to compare the quantities involved.
Creating a Sankey Chart
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Defining the Data: Start by identifying the key elements, such as input, output, intermediate steps, and any adjustments or loss along the way, that you want to visualize. This can be data from a spreadsheet, a database, or even a data set you’ve created specifically for the chart.
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Choosing a software: Sankey diagrams can be created using various graphing tools, including Tableau, Excel, Canva, D3.js (a JavaScript library), or specialized chart software. Excel offers dedicated chart types, while more advanced tools provide greater customization.
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Mapping the Data: Organize your data in a way that the node structure reflects the flow pattern. The source nodes represent where the process or flow initiates, and the sink nodes denote where it ends. Adjacent nodes illustrate changes or steps in the flow.
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Designing the Connections: Determine the width of the threads based on the desired flow. The wider the thread, the larger the quantity. Sankey charts often use color-coding for different types of flows or for distinguishing between sources and sinks.
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Adding Labels and Labels: Add labels to your nodes to identify their role and context. Also, annotate the connections with quantitative information if needed.
Application of Sankey Charts
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Process Analysis: In industries like manufacturing, logistics, and energy, Sankey diagrams are used to map out the flow of materials, energy, or goods through processes. This helps identify inefficiencies and bottlenecks that need improvement.
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Supply Chain Management: They are particularly useful for visualizing supply chain disruptions, by showing how raw materials move from suppliers to customers, and identifying potential points of failure.
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Finance: Financial institutions use Sankey charts to track the flow of money. This could include the distribution of cash between accounts, portfolio allocation, or the distribution of funds across investment projects.
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Education: In project management and planning, Sankey diagrams help facilitate understanding of resource allocation and project milestones, with their visual clarity.
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Environmental Impact: Renewable energy projects often leverage Sankey charts to display the amount of energy sources converted at various stages, highlighting the environmental impact of different processes.
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Time-series Analysis: For time-series data, Sankey charts can be applied to visualize the evolution of quantities over time, making it easier to track trends and patterns.
Conclusion
Sankey charts are a versatile data visualization tool that can simplify complex data flow processes, enhancing understanding and decision-making. By creating engaging and informative Sankey diagrams, individuals and organizations can effectively communicate the intricate relationships between data points and make informed decisions based on that information. So next time you need to visualize how things move or change, consider introducing a Sankey chart to your arsenal of data visualization techniques.
SankeyMaster
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