Social development is frequently marginalized in infrastructure and technology-based development. This paper attempts to portray the importance of the study of human ecology in a social environment to mediate the transformation efforts in social environment development that increase aspects of social-cultural life quality. An observation and mixed method analysis within the context of a case study is used to show the interaction between human ecology and sustainable development with respect to the potential and changes during a disruption in the City of Batam as a port city. The results show that innovation and transformation related to human development are still more favorable in strategic human development despite the need for modern smart port city development.