In regards to the gigapixel cameras on uav's: http://www.theverge.com/2013/2/1/3...

goldmouth on May 7, 2015 | parent | context | favorite | on: Mysterious Planes Over Baltimore Spark Surveillanc...

In regards to the gigapixel cameras on uav's:

http://www.theverge.com/2013/2/1/3940898/darpa-gigapixel-dro...

"DARPA’s frightening ARGUS-IS, a record-setting 1.8 gigapixel sensor array which can observe and record an area half the size of Manhattan. The newest in the family of "wide area persistent surveillance" tools, the system can detect and track moving objects as small as six inches from 20,000 feet in the air."

knowaveragejoe on May 7, 2015 [–]

To be fair, it's not only incredibly expensive to operate but expensive in general. I highly doubt it's been used for any real purpose in the US.