System and method for encoding standard-formatted images with information including, but not limited to, geospatial information. The test may therefore be performed using the automatically distributed code. The gate assembly is a parallel expanding gate assembly having ported, juxtaposed members that are moveable into a sealing arrangement with upstream and downstream valve seats disposed about the flowbore. Furthermore, multiple instances of the sorting, counting and merging processes can be used in parallel to reduce the time required to regenerate the reference counts for a large number of objects. The via hole pattern is thereafter etched through the anti-reflective coating layer, the dielectric layer, and the etch stop layer to form a via hole.