Abstract

This paper proposes a maintenance cycle prediction system for Quick Response (QR) codes used on outdoor cultural heritage information panels, where damage states are assessed by measuring the recognition delay, rather than simply classifying scan attempts as success or failure. The proposed system consists of a user application and a maintenance server; the server includes a damage recognition module, a data analysis and policy engine, and an administrator interface. The analysis and policy engine, which is at the core of the maintenance server, combines a delay‑based damage index with regional environmental coefficients and material coefficients to derive replacement-interval policies. To evaluate the system, multiple QR codes were installed on Jeju coastal walkways, Gangwon fortress trails, and Jeju tourism information signs, and experiments were conducted over a six‑month period. The results show that ordinary sticker‑type QR codes require replacement after approximately three months, weather‑resistant stickers after five to six months, while laminated information panels remain in normal condition throughout the six-month period. These findings demonstrate that recognition‑delay‑based damage assessment enables more effective and proactive maintenance operations and suggest that the proposed system can contribute to lifecycle management and the service quality of outdoor cultural heritage QR code infrastructures.