A City’s Journey to Secure, Real-Time Towed Vehicle Tracking
Challenge
A major city in Latin America faced operational inefficiencies in its third-party towed vehicle management system, operated by its public security department. Vehicle records were only logged upon arrival at impound lots, causing delays and confusion for owners who often mistook towed vehicles for stolen ones. Additionally, the legacy system—over a decade old—relied on obsolete technology, lacked documentation, and posed cybersecurity risks following a prior hack.
Solution
A comprehensive modernization initiative was launched, including:
- Real-time tracking: A mobile app and web admin interface enabled immediate registration of towed vehicles.
- Legacy system overhaul: Reverse engineering and documentation of the outdated system to ensure continuity.Â
- Critical integrations:Â Â
 – Mainframe (DMV database) Â
 – LDAP authentication Â
 – SOAP/REST web services Â
 – Georeferencing with city databases Â
 – Municipal transport and finance departments Â
 – Public-facing portals for license plate checks and impound documentation. Â
Results
- Operational clarity: Real-time updates reduced owner complaints and improved transparency.Â
- Risk mitigation: Obsolete technology replaced, addressing security vulnerabilities. Â
- Long-term success: System deployed November 2023; contract renewed post-implementation. Â
Technology & Methodology
- Legacy system analysis paired with agile development. Â
- Cross-departmental integration via APIs and secure protocols.
- Java EE (legacy)
- JBoss/WildFly
- PrimeFaces (from 1.1 to 14)
- SQL Server (legacy)
- Java in Android
Future Plans
1. Continuous tech upgrades to ensure system resilience.
2. Enhanced cybersecurity with proactive vulnerability assessments.
3. Expanded integrations (e.g., traffic management, tax agencies) to streamline interdepartmental workflows.
Why It Matters
This project demonstrates how digital transformation can resolve civic pain points—balancing security, efficiency, and user needs in high-stakes public sector environments.