Creating ArcGIS Raster Catalog with date/time fields from directory of NITF images?

Question

I have a directory of NITF files, each with the idatim (timestamp) field set. In the ArcMap properties, it shows up as "acquisition date" in the Key-Metadata table. I would like to be able to create a raster catalog, mosaic, or something which will enable me to enable time support in ArcMap so I can create a time-lapse video. The date field should be using this acquisition date.

I am getting familiar with ArcPy if that is a recommended solution. I have read through the ArcGIS documentation on using the time slider, how time is represented in datasets, and how to enable time on different products. The key issue I am detecting is that when loading NITF rasters into a geodatabase, they do not set the key-metadata field as the date_time attribute. I imagine there is a clever way of doing this, however I have not found it yet. If this is not possible, what part of the NITF raster should provide the time. I can update the NITF metadata myself if needed.

Some research

http://resources.arcgis.com/en/help/main/10.1/index.html#//005z00000004000000 http://resources.arcgis.com/en/help/main/10.1/index.html#//005z0000000p000000 http://resources.arcgis.com/en/help/main/10.1/index.html#//005z0000000q000000

Answer 1

As commented by @jbalk:

This solution: Getting value from Metadata in Python Script for attribute? may be useful. It involves creating a temporary xml to read the metadata into your script. Then you have it as a variable which you can use wherever you need.