1. A computer implemented method for merging a plurality of two-dimensional (2D) image-based design rules (IBDRs) stored in a design rule database into a subset of 2D IBDRs, comprising: using at least one computer system including at least one processor to perform a process, the process comprising: characterizing one or more desired rule geometries; sorting the plurality of two-dimensional image-based design rules into one or more groups according to the one or more desired rule geometries, wherein a group of the one or more groups comprises multiple two-dimensional image-based design rules, each of which includes one or more similar geometric features; and merging one or more groups, which includes the group, of the groups of two-dimensional image-based design rules into a single representative search pattern.