OK, ArcGIS got much better with version 10. I did not even mind having to re-write all of my scripts, since now, Python is really integrated. The only thing worrying me now is the performance and some file name issues (see below).
With this script, I can batch-process a number of Nasa HDF files. First, the data of the NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) and the EVI (Enhanced Vegetation Index) band is extracted. Then we re-scale it (for storage, the data was multiplied by 1E4).
Finally, I create a zonal statistic for a 320 km buffer around Zurich.
You notice that I replace all dots by underscores in line 48. This is needed because ArcGis otherwise has trouble identifying the datatype (which is done by extension).
Have fun!
