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I like maps very much, any common maps, geographic, historic, statistic, etc., or I would say reading maps is my favorite hobby. I can sit at table and read maps for several hours without any stop.

I was studying courses about math and physics in university. I am planning to pursue a PhD degree in the future. It would be great if I can convert or leverage the my map hobby as my career.

So my question is, considering my background, Is there any research direction which is closely related with map reading? If difficult to find such position in academia, is there any jobs in industry can greatly fulfill my idea?

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    This may be useful en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geographic_information_system
    – crypton480
    Commented Dec 22, 2014 at 17:59
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    A lot of newer map-related studies use density related to territory. This website maps geography but resizes the volume of the location using values.
    – Compass
    Commented Dec 22, 2014 at 18:01
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    It sounds as if Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in Geography would be a possibility.
    – Peter Jansson
    Commented Dec 22, 2014 at 19:13
  • There is work even on maps for blind people, such as "The MGIS: A Minimal Geographic Information System Accessible to Users Who Are Blind" By Megen Brittell, Michal Young and Amy Lobben
    – Alexandros
    Commented Dec 22, 2014 at 19:57
  • When it comes to pursuing dreams in academia, I've always found Will Shortz's educational background to be a source of inspiration.
    – J.R.
    Commented Dec 23, 2014 at 2:51

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Since I'm not really sure what is available in the GIS field for research I won't try to answer that part, but when I was in university I did some consultant work for a GPS company called baseline geo.

They had me in to help with some database stuff, but much of what they did seemed to be making custom gps/gis maps for various clients. For example they might have a client who is a fisherman that needs a map of all his fishing areas, or where his traps are. Another example could be a wildlife preserve where they need to keep track of the animals with gps trackers in realtime. Either way it would fit both your skillsets. This is just a industry example and you seem to me more looking for a research position or ideas.

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I'm sure you are aware of OpenStreetMap: "a collaborative project to create a free editable map of the world" (Wikipedia article).

Last year, a friend of mine was hired by a research center , Fondazione Bruno Kessler, in Trento (Italy) to develop software related to OpenStreetMap and Wikipedia (among other things)[1].

This is not actaully "map reading", but surely the OpenStreetMap is a thriving project which could benefit from your competences and passion. Many data companies are interested in it.

[1]: For what is worth, I think his position is still vacant, but I don't know where you live.

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