Introduction
Sankey charts are a versatile visualization tool for displaying complex data in a visually intuitive manner. They are particularly well-suited for displaying the flow of data between entities in a system or between different areas within a system. This article introduces the basics of creating a Sankey chart and applies some of its applications to provide insights into various types of data structures.

Creating a Sankey Chart
To create a Sankey chart, you will first need to define the entities and their flows. This involves determining the “node” structure around which the flow will originate or terminate and the “link” structure between the nodes. The link structure can be represented as separate nodes on top of the main node list.

For example, in a system of goods flow, you might have flow nodes for the various types of goods, and the links between the nodes might be represented as arrows pointing from one flow node to another. In this case, you would also need to define the “source” and “sink” nodes for the flow, which would determine where data is entered and exited the chart.

The next step is to create the main drawing area for the chart, which usually takes the form of a large rectangle or area. This will serve as the base for the chart, with the nodes and links positioned within it.

To add nodes and links to the chart, you can simply use graphic designers elements such as points, lines, and arrows to create a visual representation of the flow structure. You can place nodes and links at any size and position, but it’s important to make sure they are accurately proportional to the other elements of the chart.

Once the chart is created, you can apply any desired formatting and animation effects. Some common formatting options include changing node and link color, font size, and style, as well as animating the chart to show flows over time.

Applications in Data Visualization
Sankey charts are highly effective for displaying complex data and flow structures. They can be used to visualize the flow of data between different entities in a system, such as between different regions of a country, between different industries, or between different organizational units.

Sankey charts can also be used to visualize the flow of data between different areas within a system, such as the flow of goods from one region or location to another. This can be particularly useful in supply chain management, logistics, and supply-side analysis.

In addition, Sankey charts can also be used to visualize the flow of data between different parts of an organization, such as between different departments or between different teams within a company. This can be useful in performance management, team collaboration, and organizational structure analysis.

Conclusion
Sankey charts are a versatile and powerful tool for visualizing complex data and flow structures. By creating accurate flow structures and applying useful formatting and animation effects, you can make Sankey charts more effective at communicating important information and insights.

Sankey charts are particularly well-suited to exploring supply chain management, logistics, and supply-side analysis, but they can also be used to visualize flow of data between different regions, industries, and organizational units. With some practice and experimentation, anyone can create a well-designed and informative Sankey chart.

SankeyMaster

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