Visualizing Flows: Crafting Stories with Sankey Charts

Sankey diagrams, named after Matthew H. P. Sankey, are a versatile tool for visualizing flows and interactions between different quantities. They are particularly useful for illustrating complex systems where items flow from one value to another. In this article, we’ll delve into how you can create Sankey diagrams, both manually and through various software tools, and explore the diverse applications of these powerful visual representations.

Understanding Sankey Charts

Sankey diagrams are characterized by their ability to show how one quantity flows and transforms into another. Each link in the diagram represents a flow, and the thickness of the link is often proportional to the magnitude of the flow. This makes Sankey diagrams not only aesthetically pleasing but also highly informative.

Creating Sankey Diagrams

Manually

Creating a Sankey diagram manually involves a bit of graphic design skills. You’ll need to place the nodes in the right positions and then draw the rivers of different widths to represent the flows. However, this process can be rather time-consuming and is more suitable for simpler diagrams.

Using Software Tools

For more complex diagrams or if you’re looking for a more streamlined approach, software tools come in handy. Below are some of the most popular ones:

Tableau: Tableau Public, a free version of the data visualization tool, offers a wide array of capabilities for creating professional-looking Sankey diagrams. It’s user-friendly and allows for customization in font options and colors.
Excel: Microsoft Excel also offers a way to create Sankey diagrams, albeit with some limitations. Users can create Sankey diagrams using basic shapes and connecting lines, then insert the data to represent the flows.
Tinkerplots: Designed for teaching data visualization, Tinkerplots is a Java application that is great for creating simple Sankey diagrams. It’s ideal for educational purposes or for quick visualizations requiring no background, just a focused flow of information to explain.
Python with Plotly: Python offers the Plotly library, which is more advanced and suited for those with programming skills interested in creating interactive Sankey diagrams that can be embedded in web pages or dashboards.

Applications of Sankey Diagrams

Sankey diagrams are used across various fields, primarily due to their ability to visually encode complex systems in a comprehensible manner. Here are some of their most common applications:

Energy Flow Analysis: They are often used to analyze energy flows, showing how much energy is transformed from one form to another in a system, such as a renewable energy plant or power grid.
Water Distribution Maps: In the context of water management, Sankey diagrams help in visualizing how much water is flowing from one reservoir to another, or being consumed by different sectors.
Food Waste: These diagrams are used in analyzing the flow of food from production to discard, highlighting various stages at which waste occurs.
Economic Analysis: They illustrate the structure of economic outputs, inputs, losses, and gains, facilitating analysis in manufacturing and supply chains.
Social Media Interaction: In digital marketing, Sankey diagrams depict the flow of visitors from various sources to landing pages or products, showcasing which channels are most effective.
Biological Systems and Genomics: In the field of biology, they help in visualizing metabolic pathways, gene regulation networks, or signaling cascades.

Conclusion

Sankey diagrams are a powerful tool for crafting visually compelling stories from data flows. Whether you’re a data scientist, a researcher, or a communication professional, understanding how to create these diagrams can greatly enhance your ability to visually communicate complex information. With the right software tools and a bit of practice, you can easily turn your data into compelling and informative Sankey diagrams that tell the story of your flows in an engaging way.

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.