add the reference area function to utils

src/run.py

@@ -7,14 +7,14 @@
 from concurrent.futures import ThreadPoolExecutor as PoolExecutor
 
 from json2args import get_parameter
+from json2args.logger import logger
 from dotenv import load_dotenv
 from metacatalog import api
 from tqdm import tqdm
 
 from param import load_params
 from loader import load_entry_data
-from json2args.logger import logger
-from clip import reference_area_to_file
+from utils import reference_area_to_file
 from version import __version__
 
 # always load .env files

src/utils.py

@@ -1,5 +1,10 @@
+from pathlib import Path
+
+import geopandas as gpd
 from json2args.logger import logger
 
+from param import load_params
+
 # define a handler for whiteboxgis tools verbose output
 def whitebox_log_handler(msg: str):
     # following https://www.whiteboxgeo.com/manual/wbt_book/python_scripting/tool_output.html
@@ -10,3 +15,21 @@ def whitebox_log_handler(msg: str):
         logger.error(f"WhiteboxTools Errored: {msg}")
     else:
         logger.debug(f"WhiteboxTools info: {msg}")
+
+
+def reference_area_to_file(add_ascii: bool = False) -> str:
+    params = load_params()
+
+    # create a geodataframe
+    df = gpd.GeoDataFrame.from_features([params.reference_area])
+
+    # save the reference area as a geojson file
+    path = Path(params.base_path) / 'reference_area.geojson'
+    df.to_file(path, driver='GeoJSON')
+
+    # save the coordinates to a ascii file
+    if add_ascii:
+        path = Path(params.base_path) / 'reference_area.ascii'
+        df.get_coordinates().to_csv(path, sep=' ', header=False, index=False)
+
+    return str(path)