Sankey Diagram

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Uploading your data and generating your diagram

Step 1: Download the template here.

Step 2: Open the file.

Step 3: Three sheets are available: (i) data sheet (required), (ii) nodes_positions sheet (optional) and (iii) config sheet (optional).

Step 4: In the data sheet, you will find: (i) Column A entitled Source represents the origin of the flow; column B entitled Target represents the destination of the flow; and column C entitled Flow Value represents the numeric flow value. Make sure to identify the flow source(s) and destination(s) and then insert your numeric value(s) in the correct place(s).

Step 5: In the config sheet, edit the Diagram title in Cell B1 and subtitle in Cell B2, if necessary

Step 6: Save the file and then upload it again to the interface.

Step 7: A new tab will open showing the diagram using the uploaded data.

Step 8: download the newly generated diagram in pdf or jpeg formats.

Note 1: please note that data uploaded will not be saved for future usage. Ensure to save the generated diagram as you will not be able to retrieve it or its data later.
Note 2: please keep the name of the sheets unchanged. Changing them will generate an error in producing the diagram.

Upload Your Data

How to read the generated diagram:
  • While hovering on top of a flow, the label indicates the value imputed by users from the source of the flow to the destination flow.
  • The value displayed next to the visible label at each node is the basic summation of the flows that feed into each node.
  • This differentiation is intentional to help users identify any errors in or missing data from imputed numeric values.
  • Zero-flow links are rendered semi-transparent.
  • All recycling flows are displayed in green.
Download the Code

UNEP is glad to provide the code should users need to integrate it within their R or Python statistical softwares. The code can be downloaded by clicking on the below button.